A novel mechanism involving USP53-regulated BSEP trafficking underlies low-GGT intrahepatic cholestasis

Background and Aims: USP53 variants cause low-GGT progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). The mechanism is not well understood. USP53, which encodes a ubiquitin-specific protease, has been proposed to be involved in blood–bile barrier impairment. However, Usp53 knockout mice did not show blood–bile barrier impairment. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying USP53 -PFIC. Approach and Results: Immunohistochemistry of patient tissue, confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and surface protein biotinylation were performed to investigate the localization of proteins of interest. Small-interference RNA and CRISPR-Cas9 technology were used to downregulate or knock out genes, respectively. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to generate gene variants for expression in cells. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments were performed to investigate (variant) protein–protein interactions. Live cell imaging and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching were performed to investigate protein dynamics. The mislocalization of the bile salt export pump (BSEP) was demonstrated in hepatocytes of a USP53-associated PFIC patient and USP53 -KO cells. Loss of USP53 caused BSEP accumulation in MYO5B-positive and RAB11A-positive recycling endosomes and impaired BSEP trafficking to the plasma membrane. USP53 colocalized with MYO5B and interacted with its IQ domain. The recurrent MYO5B-PFIC-associated p.(Arg824Cys) variant, located in the IQ domain, failed to interact with USP53. Loss of USP53 expression resulted in increased ubiquitination of MYO5B and interfered with the endosomal recruitment of MYO5B. Conclusions: Loss of USP53 interaction with MYO5B and its p.(Arg824Cys) variant impaired BSEP trafficking in USP53 -associated and MYO5B -associated low-GGT intrahepatic cholestasis. These results provide a novel mechanism that underlies USP53 -PFIC and implicates USP53 in the pathogenesis of MYO5B -PFIC.