USP10-IN-4 is a potent inhibitor of ubiquitin-specific protease 10 (USP10), with an IC50 of 10.87 μM and a Kd of 365 nM. It effectively inhibits USP10-mediated proteasomal degradation of downstream proteins YAP and p53, leading to the downregulation of CDK4 in the p53 signaling pathway. USP10-IN-4 promotes apoptosis in liver cancer cells (apoptosis) and inhibits the initiation and progression of liver cancer. It is applicable in the study of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

USP10-IN-4 (Compound LY-2) inhibits the proliferation of Huh-7 and Bel-7402 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 2.5 μM and 1.3 μM, respectively, at concentrations of 0.1-10 μM. Additionally, USP10-IN-4 (1-20 μM, over 14 days) continuously suppresses colony formation in Huh-7 cells. It also induces apoptosis and G1 phase arrest in Huh-7 cells at concentrations of 5-40 μM for 24 hours. Furthermore, USP10-IN-4 (0-20 μM, from 0 to 48 hours) results in decreased expression of YAP, p53, CDK4, and Cyclin B2 proteins in Huh-7 cells.