High PRMT5 levels, maintained by KEAP1 inhibition, drive chemoresistance in high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Protein arginine methyl transferases (PRMTs) are generally upregulated in cancers. However, the mechanisms leading to this upregulation and its biological consequences are poorly understood. Here, we identify PRMT5, the main symmetric arginine methyltransferase, as a critical driver of chemoresistance in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). PRMT5 levels and its enzymatic activity are induced in a platinum-resistant (Pt-resistant) state at the protein level. To reveal potential regulators of high PRMT5 protein levels, we optimized intracellular immunostaining conditions and performed unbiased CRISPR screening. We identified Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) as a top-scoring negative regulator of PRMT5. Our mechanistic studies show that KEAP1 directly interacted with PRMT5, leading to its ubiquitin-dependent degradation under normal physiological conditions. At the genomic level, ChIP studies showed that elevated PRMT5 directly interacted with the promoters of stress response genes and positively regulated their transcription. Combined PRMT5 inhibition with Pt resulted in synergistic cellular cytotoxicity in vitro and reduced tumor growth in vivo in Pt-resistant patient-derived xenograft tumors. Overall, the findings from this study identify PRMT5 as a critical therapeutic target in Pt-resistant HGSOC cells and reveal the molecular mechanisms that lead to high PRMT5 levels in Pt-treated and chemo-resistant tumors.