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Yang J, Ren B, Ren J, Yang G, Fang Y, Wang X, Zhou F, You L, Zhao Y. Epigenetic reprogramming-induced guanidinoacetic acid synthesis promotes pancreatic cancer metastasis and transcription-activating histone modifications. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:155. [PMID: 37370109 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02698-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tends to undergo distant metastasis, especially liver metastasis, leading to a poor prognosis. Metabolic remodelling and epigenetic reprogramming are two important hallmarks of malignant tumours and participate in regulating PDAC tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, the interaction between these two processes during PDAC metastasis has not been fully elucidated. METHODS We performed metabolomics analysis to identify the critical metabolites associated with PDAC liver metastasis and focused on guanidinoacetic acid (GAA). Intracellular GAA content was significantly increased in liver metastatic PDAC cells compared to primary cancer cells in mouse xenograft tumour models. The effects of GAA supplementation and glycine amidinotransferase (GATM) knockdown on PDAC metastasis were assessed by analysing cell migration, filopodia formation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and in vivo metastasis in different cell and animal models. Next, ChIP‒qPCR, 3C‒qPCR, and CRISPRi/dCas9-KRAB experiments were used to validate the "epigenome-metabolome" mechanism. Finally, the results of in vitro approaches, including RNA-seq, CUT&RUN, RT‒qPCR, and western blot analyses, as well as luciferase reporter gene assay and transwell assay, revealed the GAA-c-Myc-HMGA axis and transcription-activating histone modifications reprogramming. RESULTS A high level of intracellular GAA was associated with PDAC liver metastasis. GAA could promote the migration, EMT, and liver metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Next, we explored the role of GATM-mediated de novo GAA synthesis in pancreatic cancer metastasis. High expression of GATM was positively correlated with advanced N stage in PDAC. Knockdown of GATM significantly reduced the intracellular level of GAA, suppressed EMT, and inhibited PDAC liver metastasis, and these effects were attenuated by GAA supplementation. Mechanistically, we identified the active enhancers looped to the Gatm gene locus that promoted GATM expression and PDAC liver metastasis. Furthermore, we found that GAA promoted cell migration and EMT by regulating c-Myc-mediated high mobility group AT-hook protein expression. Moreover, GAA increased the H3K4me3 modification level by upregulating histone methyltransferases, which induced the transcription of metastasis-related genes, including Myc. CONCLUSIONS These findings revealed the critical role of the epigenome-metabolome interaction in regulating PDAC liver metastasis and suggested potential therapeutic strategies targeting GAA metabolism and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinshou Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Feihan Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei You
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yupei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China.
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure On Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100023, People's Republic of China.
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Dai X, Xin Y, Xu W, Tian X, Wei X, Zhang H. CBP-mediated Slug acetylation stabilizes Slug and promotes EMT and migration of breast cancer cells. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2020; 64:563-574. [PMID: 32737855 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1736-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Slug, a member of the Snail family of transcriptional repressors, plays a key role in cancer progression, cellular plasticity, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Slug is a fast-turnover protein and its stability is controlled by post-translational modifications. Here, we identified that Slug is acetylated by acetyltransferase CREB-binding protein (CBP) in breast cancer cells. CBP directly interacts with the C-terminal domain of Slug through its catalytic histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain, leading to acetylation of Slug at lysines 166 and 211. Analysis with acetylation-specific antibodies revealed that Slug is highly acetylated in metastatic breast cancer cells. Notably, Slug acetylation, mediated by CBP at lysines 166 and 211, doubles its half-life and increases its stability. Further, acetylated Slug downregulates the expression of E-cadherin, the epithelial marker, and upregulates the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin, thereby promoting breast cancer cell migration. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that CBP-mediated Slug acetylation increases its stability, promoting EMT and migration of breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Dai
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education) and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yanli Xin
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education) and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Weizhi Xu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education) and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xinxia Tian
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Xiaofan Wei
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education) and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Hongquan Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education) and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
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Hexosamine pathway inhibition overcomes pancreatic cancer resistance to gemcitabine through unfolded protein response and EGFR-Akt pathway modulation. Oncogene 2020; 39:4103-4117. [PMID: 32235891 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1260-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Different evidence has indicated metabolic rewiring as a necessity for pancreatic cancer (PC) growth, invasion, and chemotherapy resistance. A relevant role has been assigned to glucose metabolism. In particular, an enhanced flux through the Hexosamine Biosynthetic Pathway (HBP) has been tightly linked to PC development. Here, we show that enhancement of the HBP, through the upregulation of the enzyme Phosphoacetylglucosamine Mutase 3 (PGM3), is associated with the onset of gemcitabine (GEM) resistance in PC. Indeed, mRNA profiles of GEM sensitive and resistant patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDXs) indicate that PGM3 expression is specifically increased in GEM-resistant PDXs. Of note, PGM3 results also overexpressed in human PC tissues as compared to paired adjacent normal tissues and its higher expression in PC patients is associated with worse median overall survival (OS). Strikingly, genetic or pharmacological PGM3 inhibition reduces PC cell growth, migration, invasion, in vivo tumor growth and enhances GEM sensitivity. Thus, combined treatment between a specific inhibitor of PGM3, named FR054, and GEM results in a potent reduction of xenograft tumor growth without any obvious side effects in normal tissues. Mechanistically, PGM3 inhibition, reducing protein glycosylation, causes a sustained Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), a significant attenuation of the pro-tumorigenic Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-Akt axis, and finally cell death. In conclusion this study identifies the HBP as a metabolic pathway involved in GEM resistance and provides a strong rationale for a PC therapy addressing the combined treatment with the PGM3 inhibitor and GEM.
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Yang G, Xiong G, Feng M, Zhao F, Qiu J, Liu Y, Cao Z, Wang H, Yang J, You L, Zheng L, Zhang T, Zhao Y. OLR1 Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis via Increased c-Myc Expression and Transcription of HMGA2. Mol Cancer Res 2020; 18:685-697. [PMID: 32019809 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-19-0718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Revised: 11/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal human malignancies, partly because of its propensity for metastasis. However, the mechanisms of metastasis in pancreatic cancer remain unclear. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (OLR1), a lectin-like scavenger receptor that recognizes several ligands, such as oxidized low-density lipoprotein, was previously reported in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The role and mechanism of OLR1 in pancreatic cancer is unclear. In this study, we found that OLR1 expression was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer tissues than that in adjacent normal tissues and closely associated with reduced overall survival. OLR1 promoted proliferation and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, OLR1 increased HMGA2 transcription by upregulating c-Myc expression to promote the metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, patients with pancreatic cancer with high expression of OLR1-c-Myc-HMGA2 axis showed worse prognosis compared with patients with low expression of OLR1-c-Myc-HMGA2 axis. IMPLICATIONS: Our findings suggested that the OLR1-c-Myc-HMGA2 axis promotes metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells and may serve as potential therapeutic targets and prognosis markers for patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Guangbing Xiong
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Mengyu Feng
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Fangyu Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiangdong Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yueze Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Huanyu Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jinshou Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lei You
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lianfang Zheng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Taiping Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. .,Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yupei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
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PTENα and PTENβ promote carcinogenesis through WDR5 and H3K4 trimethylation. Nat Cell Biol 2019; 21:1436-1448. [DOI: 10.1038/s41556-019-0409-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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