G6PD: A hub for metabolic reprogramming and redox signaling in cancer

Analysis of the interlink between glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and lung cancer through multi-omics databases

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a crucial enzyme that executes the pentose phosphate pathway. Due to its critical nodal position in the metabolic network, it is associated with different forms of cancer tumorigeneses and progression. Nonetheless, its functional role and molecular mechanism in lung cancer remain unknown. The present study provides intricate information associated with G6PD and Lung Cancer. Varieties of public datasets were retrieved by us, including UALCAN, TCGA, cBioPortal, and the UCSC Xena browser. The data obtained were used to assess the expression of G6PD, its clinical features, epigenetic regulation, relationship with tumour infiltration, tumour mutation burden, microsatellite instability, tumour microenvironment, immune checkpoint genes, genomic alteration, and patient's overall survival rate. The present study revealed that the G6PD expression was correlated with the clinical features of lung cancer including disease stage, race, sex, age, smoking habits, and lymph node metastasis. Moreover, the expression profile of G6PD also imparts epigenetic changes by modulating the DNA promoter methylation activity. Methylation of promoters changes the expression of various transcription factors, genes leading to an influence on the immune system. These events linked with G6PD-related mutational gene alterations (FAM3A, LAG3, p53, KRAS). The entire circumstance influences the patient's overall survival rate and poor prognosis. Functional investigation using STRING, GO, and KEGG found that G6PD primarily engages in hallmark functions (metabolism, immunological responses, proliferation, apoptosis, p53, HIF-1, FOXO, PI3K-AKT signaling). This work provides a wide knowledge of G6PD's function in lung cancer, as well as a theoretical foundation for possible prognostic therapeutic markers.

An Oxidative Stress-Related Prognostic Signature Predicts Treatment Response and Outcomes for Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Transarterial Chemoembolization

Purpose

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in promoting tumor resistance to hypoxia and chemotherapeutic drugs. However, the prognostic role of oxidative stress-related genes (OSRGs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has not been fully explored.

Methods

We used transcriptome data from the GSE104580 cohort containing patients marked as responders or nonresponders to TACE therapy to identify differentially expressed OSRGs associated with TACE response (TR-OSRGs). We created a TR-OSRG prognostic signature based on TR-OSRGs using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox and stepwise Cox regression analyses in a training cohort of patients with HCC (TCGA-LIHC). We verified this prognostic signature in two external cohorts of patients who received TACE for HCC (GSE14520-TACE and ZS-TACE-37). Finally, we constructed a prognostic nomogram model for predicting survival probability of patients with HCC based on Cox regression analysis.

Results

The TR-OSRG prognostic signature was created and shown to be a robust independent prognostic factor for treatment response and outcomes for HCC after TACE therapy. Risk scores based on this signature correlated with tumor stage and grade. Tumor samples from patients with higher risk scores exhibited more infiltration of immune cells and significantly increased expression of immune checkpoint genes. We also developed a nomogram for patients with HCC based on the TR-OSRG prognostic signature and clinical parameters; this nomogram was a useful quantitative analysis tool for predicting patient survival.

Conclusion

The TR-OSRGs signature exhibited good performance in predicting treatment response and outcomes in patients with HCC treated with TACE.

Identification of Predictive Biomarkers of Lameness in Transition Dairy Cows

The aim of this study was to identify with a high level of confidence metabolites previously identified as predictors of lameness and understand their biological relevance by carrying out pathway analyses. For the dairy cattle sector, lameness is a major challenge with a large impact on animal welfare and farm economics. Understanding metabolic alterations during the transition period associated with lameness before the appearance of clinical signs may allow its early detection and risk prevention. The annotation with high confidence of metabolite predictors of lameness and the understanding of interactions between metabolism and immunity are crucial for a better understanding of this condition. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with authentic standards to increase confidence in the putative annotations of metabolites previously determined as predictive for lameness in transition dairy cows, it was possible to identify cresol, valproic acid, and gluconolactone as L1, L2, and L1, respectively which are the highest levels of confidence in identification. The metabolite set enrichment analysis of biological pathways in which predictors of lameness are involved identified six significant pathways (p < 0.05). In comparison, over-representation analysis and topology analysis identified two significant pathways (p < 0.05). Overall, our LC-MS/MS analysis proved to be adequate to confidently identify metabolites in urine samples previously found to be predictive of lameness, and understand their potential biological relevance, despite the challenges of metabolite identification and pathway analysis when performing untargeted metabolomics. This approach shows potential as a reliable method to identify biomarkers that can be used in the future to predict the risk of lameness before calving. Validation with a larger cohort is required to assess the generalization of these findings.

Novel Acetamide-Based HO-1 Inhibitor Counteracts Glioblastoma Progression by Interfering with the Hypoxic-Angiogenic Pathway

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents the deadliest tumor among brain cancers. It is a solid tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation generating the hypoxic niches in the cancer core. By inducing the transcription of hypoxic inducible factor (HIF), hypoxia triggers many signaling cascades responsible for cancer progression and aggressiveness, including enhanced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or antioxidant enzymes, such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). The present work aimed to investigate the link between HO-1 expression and the hypoxic microenvironment of GBM by culturing two human glioblastoma cell lines (U87MG and A172) in the presence of a hypoxic mimetic agent, deferoxamine (DFX). By targeting hypoxia-induced HO-1, we have tested the effect of a novel acetamide-based HO-1 inhibitor (VP18/58) on GBM progression. Results have demonstrated that hypoxic conditions induced upregulation and nuclear expression of HO-1 in a cell-dependent manner related to malignant phenotype. Moreover, our data demonstrated that the HO-1 inhibitor counteracted GBM progression by modulating the HIFα/HO-1/VEGF signaling cascade in cancer cells bearing more malignant phenotypes.

Aberrant LETM1 elevation dysregulates mitochondrial functions and energy metabolism and promotes lung metastasis in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a differentiation-deficient disease, and despite the unique advantages and great potential of differentiation therapy, there are only a few known differentiation inducers, and little research has been done on their targets. Cell differentiation is associated with an increase in mitochondrial content and activity. The metabolism of some tumor cells is characterized by impaired oxidative phosphorylation, as well as up-regulation of aerobic glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways. Leucine-containing zipper and EF-hand transmembrane protein 1 (LETM1) is involved in the maintenance of mitochondrial morphology and is closely associated with tumorigenesis and progression, as well as cancer cell stemness. We found that MG63 and 143B osteosarcoma cells overexpress LETM1 and exhibit abnormalities in mitochondrial structure and function. Knockdown of LETM1 partially restored the mitochondrial structure and function, inhibited the pentose phosphate pathway, promoted oxidative phosphorylation, and led to osteogenic differentiation. It also inhibited spheroid cell formation, proliferation, migration, and invasion in an in vitro model. When LETM1 was knocked down in vivo, there was reduced tumor formation and lung metastasis. These data suggest that mitochondria are aberrant in LETM1-overexpressing osteosarcoma cells, and knockdown of LETM1 partially restores the mitochondrial structure and function, inhibits the pentose phosphate pathway, promotes oxidative phosphorylation, and increases osteogenic differentiation, thereby reducing malignant biological behavior of the cells.

An integrative pan-cancer analysis of the molecular characteristics of dietary restriction in tumour microenvironment

BACKGROUND

Dietary restriction (DR), a general term for dieting, has been demonstrated as an effective intervention in reducing the occurrence of cancers. Molecular activities associated with DR are crucial in mediating its anti-cancer effects, yet a comprehensive exploration of the landscape of these activities at the pan-cancer level is still lacking.

METHODS

We proposed a computational approach for quantifying DR-related molecular activities and delineating the landscape of these activities across 33 cancer types and 30 normal tissues within 27,320 samples. We thoroughly examined the associations between DR-related molecular activities and various factors, including the tumour microenvironment, immunological phenotypes, genomic features, and clinical prognosis. Meanwhile, we identified two DR genes that show potential as prognostic predictors in hepatocellular carcinoma and verified them by immunohistochemical assays in 90 patients.

FINDINGS

We found that DR-related molecular activities showed a close association with tumour immunity and hold potential for predicting immunotherapy responses in various cancers. Importantly, a higher level of DR-related molecular activities is associated with improved overall survival and cancer-specific survival. FZD1 and G6PD are two DR genes that serve as biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

INTERPRETATION

This study presents a robust link between DR-related molecular activities and tumour immunity across multiple cancer types. Our research could open the path for further investigation of DR-related molecular processes in cancer treatment.

FUNDING

National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82000628) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine Foundation of Guangdong Province (Grant No. 2023LSYS001).

Development of a promising PPAR signaling pathway-related prognostic prediction model for hepatocellular carcinoma

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in systemic cell metabolism, energy homeostasis and immune response inhibition. However, its significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been well documented. In our study, based on the RNA sequencing data of HCC, consensus clustering analyses were performed to identify PPAR signaling pathway-related molecular subtypes, each of which displaying varying survival probabilities and immune infiltration status. Following, a prognostic prediction model of HCC was developed by using the random survival forest method and Cox regression analysis. Significant difference in survival outcome, immune landscape, drug sensitivity and pathological features were observed between patients with different prognosis. Additionally, decision tree and nomogram models were adopted to optimize the prognostic prediction model. Furthermore, the robustness of the model was verified through single-cell RNA-sequencing data. Collectively, this study systematically elucidated that the PPAR signaling pathway-related prognostic model has good predictive efficacy for patients with HCC. These findings provide valuable insights for further research on personalized treatment approaches for HCC.

Novel application of the ferroptosis-related genes risk model associated with disulfidptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis and immune infiltration

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as the prevailing manifestation of primary liver cancer and continues to pose a formidable challenge to human well-being and longevity, owing to its elevated incidence and mortality rates. Nevertheless, the quest for reliable predictive biomarkers for HCC remains ongoing. Recent research has demonstrated a close correlation between ferroptosis and disulfidptosis, two cellular processes, and cancer prognosis, suggesting their potential as predictive factors for HCC. In this study, we employed a combination of bioinformatics algorithms and machine learning techniques, leveraging RNA sequencing data, mutation profiles, and clinical data from HCC samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases, to develop a risk prognosis model based on genes associated with ferroptosis and disulfidptosis. We conducted an unsupervised clustering analysis, calculating a risk score (RS) to predict the prognosis of HCC using these genes. Clustering analysis revealed two distinct HCC clusters, each characterized by significantly different prognostic and immune features. The median RS stratified HCC samples in the TCGA, GEO, and ICGC cohorts into high-and low-risk groups. Importantly, RS emerged as an independent prognostic factor in all three cohorts, with the high-risk group demonstrating poorer prognosis and a more active immunosuppressive microenvironment. Additionally, the high-risk group exhibited higher expression levels of tumor mutation burden (TMB), immune checkpoints (ICs), and human leukocyte antigen (HLA), suggesting a heightened responsiveness to immunotherapy. A cancer stem cell infiltration analysis revealed a higher similarity between tumor cells and stem cells in the high-risk group. Furthermore, drug sensitivity analysis highlighted significant differences in response to antitumor drugs between the two risk groups. In summary, our risk prognostic model, constructed based on ferroptosis-related genes associated with disulfidptosis, effectively predicts HCC prognosis. These findings hold potential implications for patient stratification and clinical decision-making, offering valuable theoretical insights in this field.

Metabolic reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment of liver cancer

The liver is essential for metabolic homeostasis. The onset of liver cancer is often accompanied by dysregulated liver function, leading to metabolic rearrangements. Overwhelming evidence has illustrated that dysregulated cellular metabolism can, in turn, promote anabolic growth and tumor propagation in a hostile microenvironment. In addition to supporting continuous tumor growth and survival, disrupted metabolic process also creates obstacles for the anticancer immune response and restrains durable clinical remission following immunotherapy. In this review, we elucidate the metabolic communication between liver cancer cells and their surrounding immune cells and discuss how metabolic reprogramming of liver cancer impacts the immune microenvironment and the efficacy of anticancer immunotherapy. We also describe the crucial role of the gut-liver axis in remodeling the metabolic crosstalk of immune surveillance and escape, highlighting novel therapeutic opportunities.

G6PD is a prognostic biomarker correlated with immune infiltrates in lung adenocarcinoma and pulmonary arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) with Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) shows a poor prognosis. Detecting related genes is imperative for prognosis prediction.

METHODS

The gene expression profiles of LUAD and PAH were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, respectively. The co-expression modules associated with LUAD and PAH were evaluated using the Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). The relationship between key gene expression with immune-cell infiltration and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) was evaluated. We confirmed the mRNA and protein levels in vivo and vitro. G6PD knockdown was used to conduct the colony formation assay, transwell invasion assay, and scratch wound assay of A549 cells. EDU staining and CCK8 assay were performed on G6PD knockdown HPASMCs. We identified therapeutic drug molecules and performed molecular docking between the key gene and small drug molecules.

RESULTS

Three major modules and 52 overlapped genes were recognized in LUAD and PAH. We identified the key gene G6PD, which was significantly upregulated in LUAD and PAH. In addition, we discovered a significant difference in infiltration for most immune cells between high- and low-G6PD expression groups. The mRNA and protein expressions of G6PD were significantly upregulated in LUAD and PAH. G6PD knockdown decreased proliferation, cloning, and migration of A549 cells and cell proliferation in HPASMCs. We screened five potential drug molecules against G6PD and targeted glutaraldehyde by molecular docking.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that G6PD is an immune-related biomarker and a possible therapeutic target for LUAD and PAH patients.

Three molecular subtypes and a five-gene signature for hepatocellular carcinoma based on m7G-related classification

BACKGROUND

The current research investigated the heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the expression of N7-methylguanosine (m7G)-related genes as a classification model and developed a risk model predictive of HCC prognosis, key pathological behaviors and molecular events of HCC.

METHODS

The RNA sequencing data of HCC were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-live cancer (LIHC) database, hepatocellular carcinoman database (HCCDB) and Gene Expression Omnibus database, respectively. According to the expression level of 29 m7G-related genes, a consensus clustering analysis was conducted. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis and COX regression algorithm were applied to create a risk prediction model based on normalized expression of five characteristic genes weighted by coefficients. Tumor microenvironment (TME) analysis was performed using the MCP-Counter, TIMER, CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE algorithms. The Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion algorithm was applied to assess the responses to immunotherapy in different clusters and risk groups. In addition, patient sensitivity to common chemotherapeutic drugs was determined by the biochemical half-maximal inhibitory concentration using the R package pRRophetic.

RESULTS

Three molecular subtypes of HCC were defined based on the expression level of m7G-associated genes, each of which had its specific survival rate, genomic variation status, TME status and immunotherapy response. In addition, drug sensitivity analysis showed that the C1 subtype was more sensitive to a number of conventional oncolytic drugs (including paclitaxel, imatinib, CGP-082996, pyrimethamine, salubrinal and vinorelbine). The current five-gene risk prediction model accurately predicted HCC prognosis and revealed the degree of somatic mutations, immune microenvironment status and specific biological events.

CONCLUSION

In this study, three heterogeneous molecular subtypes of HCC were defined based on m7G-related genes as a classification model, and a five-gene risk prediction model was created for predicting HCC prognosis, providing a potential assessment tool for understanding the genomic variation, immune microenvironment status and key pathological mechanisms during HCC development.

A rare adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccine in a patient with a latent tumor: A case report and literature review

The 2019 novel coronavirus infection has done significant damage to the world. The effectiveness and safety of the vaccine, the most critical measure to control the epidemic, has attracted attention. In this case, we report the diagnosis and treatment of a rare patient with adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine who had G6PD deficiency by genetic tests. We discuss the possible impact of G6PD deficiency on COVID-19 infection and potential vaccine adverse effects. Patients with severe G6PD deficiency should be monitored for vaccine safety. This article may complement a rare mechanism of vaccine side effects and chemotherapy-related side effects.

Inhibition of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) proliferation through targeting G6PD

Background

Mounting evidence has linked cancer metabolic reprogramming with altered redox homeostasis. The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is one of the key metabolism-related pathways that has been enhanced to promote cancer growth. The glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) of this pathway generates reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), which is essential for controlling cellular redox homeostasis.

Objective

This research aimed to investigate the growth-promoting effects of G6PD in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Clinical characteristics and G6PD expression levels in lung tissues of 64 patients diagnosed with lung cancer at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (Bangkok, Thailand) during 2009-2014 were analyzed. G6PD activity in NSCLC cell lines, including NCI-H1975 and NCI-H292, was experimentally inhibited using DHEA and siG6PD to study cancer cell proliferation and migration.

Results

The positive expression of G6PD in NSCLC tissues was detected by immunohistochemical staining and was found to be associated with squamous cells. G6PD expression levels and activity also coincided with the proliferation rate of NSCLC cell lines. Suppression of G6PD-induced apoptosis in NSCLC cell lines by increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio expression. The addition of D-(-)-ribose, which is an end-product of the PPP, increased the survival of G6PD-deficient NSCLC cell lines.

Conclusion

Collectively, these findings demonstrated that G6PD might play an important role in the carcinogenesis of NSCLC. Inhibition of G6PD might provide a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of NSCLC.

A comprehensive analysis of SLC25A1 expression and its oncogenic role in pan-cancer

OBJECTIVE

The solute carrier family 25 member 1 (SLC25A1) is currently the only known human transporter for citrate in the mitochondrial membrane. However, its role in cancer development remains to be elucidated. We aim to analyze the expression profile, prognostic value, potential immunological significance, and effect on tumor growth of SLC25A1 at a pan-cancer level.

METHODS

Herein, the role of SLC25A1 in tumorigenesis and progression was investigated based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), GeneMANIA, STRING and Cancer Dependency Map Project (DepMap) database via online websites or the R software. The protein expression levels were validated in tissue microarrays, and the effects on tumor cell lines were accessed through MTS and colony formation assays.

RESULTS

The expression of SLC25A1 increased in most cancers, and the upregulation of SLC25A1 in colon adenocarcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma was further confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile, SLC25A1 was linked to clinical outcomes across multiple tumor types, particularly in lung adenocarcinoma, where its high expression predicted poor prognosis. Moreover, SLC25A1 was positively associated with MSI, TMB, and CD276 and tightly correlated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Furthermore, the knockout of SLC25A1 demonstrated inhibitory effects in most cancer cell lines in the DepMap project. Cellular experiments showed that SLC25A1 knockdown significantly reduced the proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest the potential of SLC25A1 as a prognostic biomarker for cancers and a therapeutic target for precise antitumor strategy and cancer immunotherapy.

Characterization of the Chemopreventive Properties of Cannabis sativa L. Inflorescences from Monoecious Cultivars Grown in Central Italy

Hemp bioproducts hold great promise as valuable materials for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications due to their diverse bioactive compounds and potential health benefits. In line with this interest and in an attempt to valorize the Lazio Region crops, this present study investigated chemically characterized hydroalcoholic and organic extracts, obtained from the inflorescences of locally cultivated Felina 32, USO 31, Ferimon and Fedora 17 hemp varieties. In order to highlight the possible chemopreventive power of the tested samples, a bioactivity screening was performed, which included studying the antimutagenic activity, radical scavenging power, cytotoxicity in human hepatoma HepG2 cells, leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and modulation of the oxidative stress parameters and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) involved in the regulation of the cell transformation and cancer proliferation. Tolerability studies in noncancerous H69 cholangiocytes were performed, too. The organic extracts showed moderate to strong antimutagenic activities and a marked cytotoxicity in the HepG2 cells, associated with an increased oxidative stress and LDH release, and to a G6PDH modulation. The hydroalcoholic extracts mainly exhibited radical scavenging properties with weak or null activities in the other assays. The extracts were usually well-tolerated in H69 cells, except for the highest concentrations which impaired cell viability, likely due to an increased oxidative stress. The obtained results suggest a possibility in the inflorescences from the Felina 32, USO 31, Ferimon and Fedora 17 hemp varieties as source of bioactive compounds endowed with genoprotective and chemopreventive properties that could be harnessed as preventive or adjuvant healing strategies.

Comparative transcriptomes reveal different tolerance mechanisms to Streptococcus agalactiae in hybrid tilapia, nile tilapia, and blue tilapia

Tilapia is one of the most economically important freshwater fish farmed in China. Streptococcosis outbreaks have been extensively documented in farmed tilapia species. Hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus ♀ × O. aureus ♂) exhibit greater disease resistance than Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) and blue tilapia (O. aureus). However, the molecular mechanism underlying the enhanced tolerance of hybrid tilapia is still poorly understood. In this study, comparative transcriptome analysis was performed to reveal the different tolerance mechanisms to Streptococcus agalactiae in the three tilapia lines. In total, 1982, 2355, and 2076 differentially expressed genes were identified at 48 h post-infection in hybrid tilapia, Nile tilapia, and blue tilapia, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that numerous metabolic and immune-related pathways were activated in all three tilapia lines. The differential expression of specific genes associated with phagosome, focal adhesion, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and toll-like receptor signaling pathways contributed to the resistance of hybrid tilapia. Notably, immune response genes in hybrid tilapia, such as P38, TLR5, CXCR3, CXCL12, PSTPIP1, and TFR, were generally suppressed under normal conditions but selectively induced following pathogen challenge. These results expand our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying S. agalactiae tolerance in hybrid tilapia and provide valuable insights for tilapia breeding programs.

Acetylation-dependent coupling between G6PD activity and apoptotic signaling

Lysine acetylation has been discovered in thousands of non-histone human proteins, including most metabolic enzymes. Deciphering the functions of acetylation is key to understanding how metabolic cues mediate metabolic enzyme regulation and cellular signaling. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the rate-limiting enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway, is acetylated on multiple lysine residues. Using site-specifically acetylated G6PD, we show that acetylation can activate (AcK89) and inhibit (AcK403) G6PD. Acetylation-dependent inactivation is explained by structural studies showing distortion of the dimeric structure and active site of G6PD. We provide evidence for acetylation-dependent K95/97 ubiquitylation of G6PD and Y503 phosphorylation, as well as interaction with p53 and induction of early apoptotic events. Notably, we found that the acetylation of a single lysine residue coordinates diverse acetylation-dependent processes. Our data provide an example of the complex roles of acetylation as a posttranslational modification that orchestrates the regulation of enzymatic activity, posttranslational modifications, and apoptotic signaling.

PBX3 promotes pentose phosphate pathway and colorectal cancer progression by enhancing G6PD expression

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancers crucial for fulfilling the needs of energy, building blocks, and antioxidants to support tumor cells' rapid proliferation and to cope with the harsh microenvironment. Pre-B-cell leukemia transcription factor 3 (PBX3) is a member of the PBX family whose expression is up-regulated in various tumors, however, whether it is involved in tumor cell metabolic reprogramming remains unclear. Herein, we report that PBX3 is a positive regulator of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the rate-limiting enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). PBX3 promoted G6PD transcriptional activity in tumor cells by binding directly to its promoter, leading to PPP stimulation and enhancing the production of nucleotides and NADPH, a crucial reductant, thereby promoting nucleic acid and lipid biosynthesis while decreasing intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. The PBX3/G6PD axis also promoted tumorigenic potential in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these findings reveal a novel function of PBX3 as a regulator of G6PD, linking its oncogenic activity with tumor cell metabolic reprogramming, especially PPP. Furthermore, our results suggested that PBX3 is a potential target for metabolic-based anti-tumor therapeutic strategies.

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Colorectal Cancer: Navigating the Intersections of Immunity, Intercellular Communication, and Therapeutic Potential

This comprehensive review elucidates the intricate roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) within the colorectal cancer (CRC) microenvironment, intersecting the domains of immunity, intercellular communication, and therapeutic potential. lncRNAs, which are significantly involved in the pathogenesis of CRC, immune evasion, and the treatment response to CRC, have crucial implications in inflammation and serve as promising candidates for novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers. This review scrutinizes the interaction of lncRNAs with the Consensus Molecular Subtypes (CMSs) of CRC, their complex interplay with the tumor stroma affecting immunity and inflammation, and their conveyance via extracellular vesicles, particularly exosomes. Furthermore, we delve into the intricate relationship between lncRNAs and other non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs and circular RNAs, in mediating cell-to-cell communication within the CRC microenvironment. Lastly, we propose potential strategies to manipulate lncRNAs to enhance anti-tumor immunity, thereby underlining the significance of lncRNAs in devising innovative therapeutic interventions in CRC.

Uncovering Novel Roles of miR-122 in the Pathophysiology of the Liver: Potential Interaction with NRF1 and E2F4 Signaling

MicroRNA miR-122 plays a pivotal role in liver function. Despite numerous studies investigating this miRNA, the global network of genes regulated by miR-122 and its contribution to the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain largely unknown. To gain a deeper understanding of miR-122 activity, we employed two complementary approaches. Firstly, through transcriptome analysis of polyribosome-bound RNAs, we discovered that miR-122 exhibits potential antagonistic effects on specific transcription factors known to be dysregulated in liver disease, including nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF1) and the E2F transcription factor 4 (E2F4). Secondly, through proteome analysis of hepatoma cells transfected with either miR-122 mimic or antagomir, we discovered changes in several proteins associated with increased malignancy. Interestingly, many of these proteins were reported to be transcriptionally regulated by NRF1 and E2F4, six of which we validated as miR-122 targets. Among these, a negative correlation was observed between miR-122 and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase levels in the livers of patients with hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. This study provides novel insights into potential alterations of molecular pathway occurring at the early stages of liver disease, driven by the dysregulation of miR-122 and its associated genes.

Pepper Fruit Extracts Show Anti-Proliferative Activity against Tumor Cells Altering Their NADPH-Generating Dehydrogenase and Catalase Profiles

Cancer is considered one of the main causes of human death worldwide, being characterized by an alteration of the oxidative metabolism. Many natural compounds from plant origin with anti-tumor attributes have been described. Among them, capsaicin, which is the molecule responsible for the pungency in hot pepper fruits, has been reported to show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities, as well as anti-proliferative properties against cancer. Thus, in this work, the potential anti-proliferative activity of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruits from diverse varieties with different capsaicin contents (California < Piquillo < Padrón < Alegría riojana) against several tumor cell lines (lung, melanoma, hepatoma, colon, breast, pancreas, and prostate) has been investigated. The results showed that the capsaicin content in pepper fruits did not correspond with their anti-proliferative activity against tumor cell lines. By contrast, the greatest activity was promoted by the pepper tissues which contained the lowest capsaicin amount. This indicates that other compounds different from capsaicin have this anti-tumor potentiality in pepper fruits. Based on this, green fruits from the Alegría riojana variety, which has negligible capsaicin levels, was used to study the effect on the oxidative and redox metabolism of tumor cell lines from liver (Hep-G2) and pancreas (MIA PaCa-2). Different parameters from both lines treated with crude pepper fruit extracts were determined including protein nitration and protein S-nitrosation (two post-translational modifications (PTMs) promoted by nitric oxide), the antioxidant capacity, as well as the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), among others. In addition, the activity of the NADPH-generating enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH), and NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-ICDH) was followed. Our data revealed that the treatment of both cell lines with pepper fruit extracts altered their antioxidant capacity, enhanced their catalase activity, and considerably reduced the activity of the NADPH-generating enzymes. As a consequence, less H₂O₂ and NADPH seem to be available to cells, thus avoiding cell proliferation and possibly triggering cell death in both cell lines.

A mitotic NADPH upsurge promotes chromosome segregation and tumour progression in aneuploid cancer cells

Redox metabolites have been observed to fluctuate through the cell cycle in cancer cells, but the functional impacts of such metabolic oscillations remain unknown. Here, we uncover a mitosis-specific nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) upsurge that is essential for tumour progression. Specifically, NADPH is produced by glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) upon mitotic entry, which neutralizes elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prevents ROS-mediated inactivation of mitotic kinases and chromosome missegregation. Mitotic activation of G6PD depends on the phosphorylation of its co-chaperone protein BAG3 at threonine 285, which results in dissociation of inhibitory BAG3. Blocking BAG3T285 phosphorylation induces tumour suppression. A mitotic NADPH upsurge is present in aneuploid cancer cells with high levels of ROS, while nearly unobservable in near-diploid cancer cells. High BAG3T285 phosphorylation is associated with worse prognosis in a cohort of patients with microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer. Our study reveals that aneuploid cancer cells with high levels of ROS depend on a G6PD-mediated NADPH upsurge in mitosis to protect them from ROS-induced chromosome missegregation.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase: a therapeutic target for ovarian cancer

INTRODUCTION

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a gynecological tumor disease, which is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage and has a poor prognosis. It has been established that the glucose metabolism rate of cancer cells is significantly higher than that of normal cells, and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is an important branch pathway for glucose metabolism. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the key rate-limiting enzyme in the PPP, which plays an important role in the initiation and development of cancer (such as OC), and has been considered as a promisinganti-cancer target.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, based on the structure and biological function of G6PD, recent research on the roles of G6PD in the progression, metastasis, and chemoresistance of OC are summarized and accompanied by proposed molecular mechanisms, which may provide a systematic understanding of targeting G6PD for the treatment of patients with OC.

EXPERT OPINION

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that G6PD is a promising target of cancer. The development of G6PD inhibitors for cancer treatment merits broad application prospects.

The role of molecular subtypes and immune infiltration characteristics based on disulfidptosis-associated genes in lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common type of lung cancer which accounts for about 40% of all lung cancers. Early detection, risk stratification and treatment are important for improving outcomes for LUAD. Recent studies have found that abnormal accumulation of cystine and other disulfide occurs in the cell under glucose starvation, which induces disulfide stress and increases the content of disulfide bond in actin cytoskeleton, resulting in cell death, which is defined as disulfidptosis. Because the study of disulfidptosis is in its infancy, its role in disease progression is still unclear. In this study, we detected the expression and mutation of disulfidptosis genes in LUAD using a public database. Clustering analysis based on disulfidptosis gene was performed and differential genes of disulfidptosis subtype were analyzed. 7 differential genes of disulfidptosis subtype were used to construct a prognostic risk model, and the causes of prognostic differences were investigated by immune-infiltration analysis, immune checkpoint analysis, and drug sensitivity analysis. qPCR was used to verify the expression of 7 key genes in lung cancer cell line (A549) and normal bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B). Since G6PD had the highest risk factor of lung cancer, we further verified the protein expression of G6PD in lung cancer cells by western blot, and confirmed through colony formation experiment that interference with G6PD was able to significantly inhibit the proliferation ability of lung cancer cells. Our results provide evidence for the role of disulfidptosis in LUAD and provide new ideas for individualized precision therapy of LUAD.

G6PD drives glioma invasion by regulating SQSTM1 protein stability

Glioma is an incurable brain tumor with high recurrence due to the frequent invasion of neoplastic cells. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a critical enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) whose aberrant expression drives the pathogenesis of various cancers. Recent research has identified other moonlight modes of enzymes besides the well-known regulation of metabolic reprogramming. Here, we identified previously unexplored roles of G6PD in glioma via gene set variation analysis (GSVA) based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database. Furthermore, survival analyses revealed that glioma patients with high G6PD expression had a worse outcome than patients with low G6PD expression (Hazard Ratio (95%CI): 2.96 (2.41, 3.64), p = 3.5E-22). Combined with functional assays, G6PD was shown to be related with the migration and invasion in glioma. G6PD knockdown could inhibit the migration in LN229 cells. And G6PD overexpression enhanced LN229 cell migration and invasion. Mechanically, the knockdown of G6PD reduced sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) protein stability under cycloheximide (CHX) treatment. Moreover, the overexpression of SQSTM1 rescued the impaired migrated and invasive phenotypes in G6PD-silenced cells. Clinically, we validated the role of G6PD-SQSTM1 axis in glioma prognosis by constructing the multivariate cox proportional hazards regression model. These results define a pivotal function of G6PD in modulating SQSTM1 to promote glioma aggressiveness. And G6PD may be a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in glioma. G6PD-SQSTM1 axis may be a potential prognostic biomarker in glioma.

Role of Escin in breast cancer therapy: potential mechanism for inducing ferroptosis and synergistic antitumor activity with cisplatin

Breast cancer (BC) has threatened women worldwide for a long time, and novel treatments are needed. Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death that is a potential therapeutic target for BC. In this study, we identified Escin, a traditional Chinese medicine, as a possible supplement for existing chemotherapy strategies. Escin inhibited BC cell growth in vitro and in vivo, and ferroptosis is probable to be the main cause for Escin-induced cell death. Mechanistically, Escin significantly downregulated the protein level of GPX4, while overexpression of GPX4 could reverse the ferroptosis triggered by Escin. Further study revealed that Escin could promote G6PD ubiquitination and degradation, thus inhibiting the expression of GPX4 and contributing to the ferroptosis. Moreover, proteasome inhibitor MG132 or G6PD overexpression could partially reverse Escin-induced ferroptosis, when G6PD knockdown aggravated that. In vivo study also supported that downregulation of G6PD exacerbated tumor growth inhibition by Escin. Finally, our data showed that cell apoptosis was dramatically elevated by Escin combined with cisplatin in BC cells. Taken together, these results suggest that Escin inhibits tumor growth in vivo and in vitro via regulating the ferroptosis mediated by G6PD/GPX4 axis. Our findings provide a promising therapeutic strategy for BC.

Integrated analysis of ferroptosis-related gene signature for overall survival prediction in Asian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent types of cancers in Asia. Accumulating evidence suggests that ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of cell death, and has played an important role in cancer biology.

METHODS

Based on the manually curated ferroptosis-related gene set and TCGA-LIHC dataset of Asian patients, we used DESeq2, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and univariate Cox regression to identify differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes with significantly prognostic capacity. A risk signature was constructed based on the selected genes for predicting the survival of HCC patients in Asia. The survival prediction accuracy was confirmed by the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was used to explore the functional associations of the signature. Ferroptosis potential index (FPI) and xCell algorithm was applied to quantify ferroptosis and immune cell infiltration, respectively. Two independent datasets from the GEO and the ICGC database were used for external validation.

RESULTS

The ferroptosis-related signature could accurately predict the survival outcomes of HCC patients in Asian (p value < 0.0001). We showed that the signature was an independent factor and was beneficial in elevating risk stratification of current clinicopathologic features, such as the amount of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and residual tumor classification. Functional characterization showed that critical processes in tumorigenesis belonged to the high-risk groups, for example inflammatory response, which may be the main driver of HCC. The high-risk group had higher FPIs and infiltrations of macrophages and T-helper cells than the low-risk group. Furthermore, two independent cohorts confirmed the prognostic value of our signature.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our results demonstrated potential application of ferroptosis-related genes as independent biomarkers in Asian HCC patients. Targeting ferroptosis may be clinically useful beyond known clinicopathological factors and provide benefit in immunotherapy.

Tracing the electron flow in redox metabolism: The appropriate distribution of electrons is essential to maintain redox balance in cancer cells

Cancer cells are characterized by sustained proliferation, which requires a huge demand of fuels to support energy production and biosynthesis. Energy is produced by the oxidation of the fuels during catabolism, and biosynthesis is achieved by the reduction of smaller units or precursors. Therefore, the oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions in cancer cells are more active compared to those in the normal counterparts. The higher activity of redox metabolism also induces a more severe oxidative stress, raising the question of how cancer cells maintain the redox balance. In this review, we overview the redox metabolism of cancer cells in an electron-tracing view. The electrons are derived from the nutrients in the tumor microenvironment and released during catabolism. Most of the electrons are transferred to NAD(P) system and then directed to four destinations: energy production, ROS generation, reductive biosynthesis and antioxidant system. The appropriate distribution of these electrons achieved by the function of redox regulation network is essential to maintain redox homeostasis in cancer cells. Interfering with the electron distribution and disrupting redox balance by targeting the redox regulation network may provide therapeutic implications for cancer treatment.

Kinetic and data-driven modeling of pancreatic β-cell central carbon metabolism and insulin secretion

Pancreatic β-cells respond to increased extracellular glucose levels by initiating a metabolic shift. That change in metabolism is part of the process of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and is of particular interest in the context of diabetes. However, we do not fully understand how the coordinated changes in metabolic pathways and metabolite products influence insulin secretion. In this work, we apply systems biology approaches to develop a detailed kinetic model of the intracellular central carbon metabolic pathways in pancreatic β-cells upon stimulation with high levels of glucose. The model is calibrated to published metabolomics datasets for the INS1 823/13 cell line, accurately capturing the measured metabolite fold-changes. We first employed the calibrated mechanistic model to estimate the stimulated cell's fluxome. We then used the predicted network fluxes in a data-driven approach to build a partial least squares regression model. By developing the combined kinetic and data-driven modeling framework, we gain insights into the link between β-cell metabolism and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The combined modeling framework was used to predict the effects of common anti-diabetic pharmacological interventions on metabolite levels, flux through the metabolic network, and insulin secretion. Our simulations reveal targets that can be modulated to enhance insulin secretion. The model is a promising tool to contextualize and extend the usefulness of metabolomics data and to predict dynamics and metabolite levels that are difficult to measure in vitro. In addition, the modeling framework can be applied to identify, explain, and assess novel and clinically-relevant interventions that may be particularly valuable in diabetes treatment.

Glycometabolism-related gene signature of hepatocellular carcinoma predicts prognosis and guides immunotherapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a severe cancer endangering human health. We constructed a novel glycometabolism-related risk score to predict prognosis and immunotherapy strategies in HCC patients. The HCC data sets were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the glycometabolism-related gene sets were obtained from the Molecular Signature Database. The least absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was used to construct a risk score based on glycometabolism-related genes. A simple visual nomogram model with clinical indicators was constructed and its effectiveness in calibration, accuracy, and clinical value was evaluated. We also explored the correlation between glycometabolism-related risk scores and molecular pathways, immune cells, and functions. Patients in the low-risk group responded better to anti-CTLA-4 immune checkpoint treatment and benefited from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. The study found that glycometabolism-related risk score can effectively distinguish the prognosis, molecular and immune-related characteristics of HCC patients, and may provide a new strategy for individualized treatment.

The Transcription Coregulator RIP140 Inhibits Cancer Cell Proliferation by Targeting the Pentose Phosphate Pathway

Cancer cells switch their metabolism toward glucose metabolism to sustain their uncontrolled proliferation. Consequently, glycolytic intermediates are diverted into the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) to produce macromolecules necessary for cell growth. The transcription regulator RIP140 controls glucose metabolism in tumor cells, but its role in cancer-associated reprogramming of cell metabolism remains poorly understood. Here, we show that, in human breast cancer cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts, RIP140 inhibits the expression of the gene-encoding G6PD, the first enzyme of the PPP. RIP140 deficiency increases G6PD activity as well as the level of NADPH, a reducing cofactor essential for macromolecule synthesis. Moreover, G6PD knock-down inhibits the gain of proliferation observed when RIP140 expression is reduced. Importantly, RIP140-deficient cells are more sensitive to G6PD inhibition in cell proliferation assays and tumor growth experiments. Altogether, this study describes a novel role for RIP140 in regulating G6PD levels, which links its effect on breast cancer cell proliferation to metabolic rewiring.

Transcription Factor NRF2 Participates in Cell Cycle Progression at the Level of G1/S and Mitotic Checkpoints

Transcription factor NRF2 is a master regulator of the multiple cytoprotective responses that confer growth advantages on a cell. However, its participation in the mechanisms that govern the cell division cycle has not been explored in detail. In this study, we used several standard methods of synchronization of proliferating cells together with flow cytometry and monitored the participation of NRF2 along the cell cycle by the knockdown of its gene expression. We found that the NRF2 levels were highest at S phase entry, and lowest at mitosis. NRF2 depletion promoted both G1 and M arrest. Targeted transcriptomics analysis of cell cycle regulators showed that NRF2 depletion leads to changes in key cell cycle regulators, such as CDK2, TFDP1, CDK6, CDKN1A (p21), CDKN1B (p27), CCNG1, and RAD51. This study gives a new dimension to NRF2 effects, showing their implication in cell cycle progression.

Tumor Glucose and Fatty Acid Metabolism in the Context of Anthracycline and Taxane-Based (Neo)Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Carcinomas

Breast cancer is characterized by considerable metabolic diversity. A relatively high percentage of patients diagnosed with breast carcinoma do not respond to standard-of-care treatment, and alteration in metabolic pathways nowadays is considered one of the major mechanisms responsible for therapeutic resistance. Consequently, there is an emerging need to understand how metabolism shapes therapy response, therapy resistance and not ultimately to analyze the metabolic changes occurring after different treatment regimens. The most commonly applied neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens in breast cancer contain an anthracycline (doxorubicin or epirubicin) in combination or sequentially administered with taxanes (paclitaxel or docetaxel). Despite several efforts, drug resistance is still frequent in many types of breast cancer, decreasing patients’ survival. Understanding how tumor cells rapidly rewire their signaling pathways to persist after neoadjuvant cancer treatment have to be analyzed in detail and in a more complex system to enable scientists to design novel treatment strategies that target different aspects of tumor cells and tumor resistance. Tumor heterogeneity, the rapidly changing environmental context, differences in nutrient use among different cell types, the cooperative or competitive relationships between cells pose additional challenges in profound analyzes of metabolic changes in different breast carcinoma subtypes and treatment protocols. Delineating the contribution of metabolic pathways to tumor differentiation, progression, and resistance to different drugs is also the focus of research. The present review discusses the changes in glucose and fatty acid pathways associated with the most frequently applied chemotherapeutic drugs in breast cancer, as well the underlying molecular mechanisms and corresponding novel therapeutic strategies.

Effect of pH on the structure and function of cyclin-dependent kinase 6

Cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) is an important protein kinase that regulates cell growth, development, cell metabolism, inflammation, and apoptosis. Its overexpression is associated with reprogramming glucose metabolism through alternative pathways and apoptosis, which ultimately plays a significant role in cancer development. In the present study, we have investigated the structural and conformational changes in CDK6 at varying pH employing a multi-spectroscopic approach. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy revealed at extremely acidic conditions (pH 2.0–4.0), the secondary structure of CDK6 got significantly disrupted, leading to aggregates formation. These aggregates were further characterized by employing Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence. No significant secondary structural changes were observed over the alkaline pH range (pH 7.0–11.0). Further, fluorescence and UV spectroscopy revealed that the tertiary structure of CDK6 was disrupted under extremely acidic conditions, with slight alteration occurring in mild acidic conditions. The tertiary structure remains intact over the entire alkaline range. Additionally, enzyme assay provided an insight into the functional aspect of CDK at varying pH; CDK6 activity was optimal in the pH range of 7.0–8.0. This study will provide a platform that provides newer insights into the pH-dependent dynamics and functional behavior of CDK6 in different CDK6 directed diseased conditions, viz. different types of cancers where changes in pH contribute to cancer development.

The Multiple Roles of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in Tumorigenesis and Cancer Chemoresistance

The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is a branch from glycolysis that begins from glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) and ends up with fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GADP). Its primary physiological significance is to provide nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and nucleotides for vital activities such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) defense and DNA synthesis. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a housekeeping protein with 514 amino acids that is also the rate-limiting enzyme of PPP, catalyzing G6P into 6-phosphogluconolactone (6PGL) and producing the first NADPH of this pathway. Increasing evidence indicates that G6PD is upregulated in diverse cancers, and this dysfunction influences DNA synthesis, DNA repair, cell cycle regulation and redox homeostasis, which provides advantageous conditions for cancer cell growth, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance. Thus, targeting G6PD by inhibitors has been shown as a promising strategy in treating cancer and reversing chemotherapeutic resistance. In this review, we will summarize the existing knowledge concerning G6PD and discuss its role, regulation and inhibitors in cancer development and chemotherapy resistance.

Proteomic Landscape of Extracellular Vesicles for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Subtyping

The role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) proteome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) pathology, subclassification, and patient screening is unexplored. We analyzed by state-of-the-art mass spectrometry the whole cell and secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) proteomes of different molecular subtypes of DLBCL, germinal center B cell (GCB subtype), and activated B cell (ABC subtype). After quality control assessment, we compared whole-cell and secreted EVs proteomes of the two cell-of-origin (COO) categories, GCB and ABC subtypes, resulting in 288/1115 significantly differential expressed proteins from the whole-cell proteome and 228/608 proteins from EVs (adjust p-value < 0.05/p-value < 0.05). In our preclinical model system, we demonstrated that the EV proteome and the whole-cell proteome possess the capacity to separate cell lines into ABC and GCB subtypes. KEGG functional analysis and GO enrichment analysis for cellular component, molecular function, and biological process of differential expressed proteins (DEP) between ABC and GCB EVs showed a significant enrichment of pathways involved in immune response function. Other enriched functional categories for DEPs constitute cellular signaling and intracellular trafficking such as B-cell receptor (BCR), Fc_gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, ErbB signaling, and endocytosis. Our results suggest EVs can be explored as a tool for patient diagnosis, follow-up, and disease monitoring. Finally, this study proposes novel drug targets based on highly expressed proteins, for which antitumor drugs are available suggesting potential combinatorial therapies for aggressive forms of DLBCL. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD028267.

The Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum in the Differential Endurance against Redox Stress in Cortical and Spinal Astrocytes from the Newborn SOD1G93A Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Recent studies reported that the uptake of [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is increased in the spinal cord (SC) and decreased in the motor cortex (MC) of patients with ALS, suggesting that the disease might differently affect the two nervous districts with different time sequence or with different mechanisms. Here we show that MC and SC astrocytes harvested from newborn B6SJL-Tg (SOD1^G93A) 1Gur mice could play different roles in the pathogenesis of the disease. Spectrophotometric and cytofluorimetric analyses showed an increase in redox stress, a decrease in antioxidant capacity and a relative mitochondria respiratory uncoupling in MC SOD1^G93A astrocytes. By contrast, SC mutated cells showed a higher endurance against oxidative damage, through the increase in antioxidant defense, and a preserved respiratory function. FDG uptake reproduced the metabolic response observed in ALS patients: SOD1^G93A mutation caused a selective enhancement in tracer retention only in mutated SC astrocytes, matching the activity of the reticular pentose phosphate pathway and, thus, of hexose-6P dehydrogenase. Finally, both MC and SC mutated astrocytes were characterized by an impressive ultrastructural enlargement of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and impairment in ER–mitochondria networking, more evident in mutated MC than in SC cells. Thus, SOD1^G93A mutation differently impaired MC and SC astrocyte biology in a very early stage of life.

Glutamine Modulates Expression and Function of Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase via NRF2 in Colon Cancer Cells

Nucleotide pools need to be constantly replenished in cancer cells to support cell proliferation. The synthesis of nucleotides requires glutamine and 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate produced from ribose-5-phosphate via the oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (ox-PPP). Both PPP and glutamine also play a key role in maintaining the redox status of cancer cells. Enhanced glutamine metabolism and increased glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) expression have been related to a malignant phenotype in tumors. However, the association between G6PD overexpression and glutamine consumption in cancer cell proliferation is still incompletely understood. In this study, we demonstrated that both inhibition of G6PD and glutamine deprivation decrease the proliferation of colon cancer cells and induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, we unveiled that glutamine deprivation induce an increase of G6PD expression that is mediated through the activation of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2). This crosstalk between G6PD and glutamine points out the potential of combined therapies targeting oxidative PPP enzymes and glutamine catabolism to combat colon cancer.

This is not a pipe - But how harmful is electronic cigarette smoke

This issue of the Biomedical Journal tells us about the risks of electronic cigarette smoking, variations of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2, and how COVID-19 affects the gastrointestinal system. Moreover, we learn that cancer immunotherapy seems to work well in elderly patients, how thyroid hormones regulate noncoding RNAs in a liver tumour context, and that G6PD is a double-edged sword of redox signalling. We also discover that Perilla leaf extract could inhibit SARS-CoV-2, that artificial neural networks can diagnose COVID-19 patients and predict vaccine epitopes on the Epstein-Barr Virus, and that men and women have differential inflammatory responses to physical effort. Finally, the surgical strategies for drug-resistant epilepsy, computer-supervised double-jaw surgery, dental pulp stem cell motility, and the restitution of the brain blood supply after atherosclerotic stroke are discussed.

Identification of Metabolic-Associated Genes for the Prediction of Colon and Rectal Adenocarcinoma

Background and Aim

Uncontrolled proliferation is the most prominent biological feature of tumors. In order to rapidly proliferate, tumor cells regulate their metabolic behavior by controlling the expression of metabolism-related genes (MRGs) to maximize the utilization of available nutrients. In this study, we aimed to construct prognosis models for colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD) and rectum adenocarcinoma (READ) using MRGs to predict the prognoses of patients.

Methods

We first acquired the gene expression profiles of COAD and READ from the TCGA database, and then utilized univariate Cox analysis, Lasso regression, and multivariable Cox analysis to identify the MRGs for risk models.

Results

Eight genes (CPT1C, PLCB2, PLA2G2D, GAMT, ENPP2, PIP4K2B, GPX3, and GSR) in the colon cancer risk model and six genes (TDO2, PKLR, GAMT, EARS2, ACO1, and WAS) in the rectal cancer risk model were identified successfully. Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that these two models could accurately and independently predict overall survival (OS) for patients with COAD or READ. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis was used to identify the metabolism pathway of MRGs in the risk models and analyzed these genes comprehensively. Then, we verified the prognosis model in independent COAD cohorts (GSE17538) and detected the correlations of the protein expression levels of GSR and ENPP2 with prognosis for COAD or READ.

Conclusion

In this study, 14 MRGs were identified as potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer.