Modulation of glycolysis and lipogenesis by novel PI3K selective molecule represses tumor angiogenesis and decreases colorectal cancer growth

Molecular insights into the role of mixed lineage kinase 3 in cancer hallmarks

Mixed-lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) is a serine/threonine kinase of the MAPK Kinase kinase (MAP3K) family that plays critical roles in various biological processes, including cancer. Upon activation, MLK3 differentially activates downstream MAPKs, such as JNK, p38, and ERK. In addition, it regulates various non-canonical signaling pathways, such as β-catenin, AMPK, Pin1, and PAK1, to regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. Recent studies have also uncovered other potentially diverse roles of MLK3 in malignancy, which include metabolic reprogramming, cancer-associated inflammation, and evasion of cancer-related immune surveillance. The role of MLK3 in cancer is complex and cancer-specific, and an understanding of its function at the molecular level aligned specifically with the cancer hallmarks will have profound therapeutic implications for diagnosing and treating MLK3-dependent cancers. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the effect of MLK3 on the hallmarks of cancer, providing insights into its potential as a promising anticancer drug target.

Quinazoline sulfonamide derivatives targeting MicroRNA-34a/MDM4/p53 apoptotic axis with radiosensitizing activity

Aim: New quinazoline benzenesulfonamide hybrids 4a-n were synthesized to determine their cytotoxicity and effect on the miR-34a/MDM4/p53 apoptotic pathway. Materials & methods: Cytotoxicity against hepatic, breast, lung and colon cancer cell lines was estimated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: Compound 4d was the most potent against HepG2 and MCF-7 cancer cells, with potential apoptotic activity verified by a significant upregulation of miR-34a and p53 gene expressions. The apoptotic effect of 4d was further investigated and showed downregulation of miR-21, VEGF, STAT3 and MDM4 gene expression. Conclusion: The anticancer and apoptotic activities of 4d were enhanced post irradiation by a single dose of 8 Gy γ-radiation. Docking analysis demonstrated a valuable affinity of 4d toward VEGFR2 and MDM4 active sites.

The effects of metabolism on the immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy that is widely prevalent worldwide. Due to its unsatisfactory treatment outcome and extremely poor prognosis, many studies on the molecular mechanisms and pathological mechanisms of CRC have been published in recent years. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an extremely important feature of tumorigenesis and one of the hallmarks of tumor development. Metabolic reprogramming is currently a hot topic in tumor research, and studies on this topic have provided important insights into CRC development. In particular, metabolic reprogramming in cancer causes changes in the composition of energy and nutrients in the TME. Furthermore, it can alter the complex crosstalk between immune cells and associated immune factors, such as associated macrophages and T cells, which play important immune roles in the TME, in turn affecting the immune escape of tumors by altering immune surveillance. In this review, we summarize several metabolism-related processes affecting the immune microenvironment of CRC tumors. Our results showed that the immune microenvironment is regulated by metabolic reprogramming and influences the development of CRC.

Targeting the Warburg effect: A revisited perspective from molecular mechanisms to traditional and innovative therapeutic strategies in cancer

Cancer reprogramming is an important facilitator of cancer development and survival, with tumor cells exhibiting a preference for aerobic glycolysis beyond oxidative phosphorylation, even under sufficient oxygen supply condition. This metabolic alteration, known as the Warburg effect, serves as a significant indicator of malignant tumor transformation. The Warburg effect primarily impacts cancer occurrence by influencing the aerobic glycolysis pathway in cancer cells. Key enzymes involved in this process include glucose transporters (GLUTs), HKs, PFKs, LDHs, and PKM2. Moreover, the expression of transcriptional regulatory factors and proteins, such as FOXM1, p53, NF-κB, HIF1α, and c-Myc, can also influence cancer progression. Furthermore, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circular RNAs play a vital role in directly regulating the Warburg effect. Additionally, gene mutations, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and immune system interactions are closely associated with the Warburg effect. Notably, the development of drugs targeting the Warburg effect has exhibited promising potential in tumor treatment. This comprehensive review presents novel directions and approaches for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients by conducting in-depth research and summarizing the bright prospects of targeting the Warburg effect in cancer.

Research progress of hexokinase 2 in inflammatory-related diseases and its inhibitors

Hexokinase 2 (HK2) is a crucial enzyme involved in glycolysis, which converts glucose into glucose-6-phosphate and plays a significant role in glucose metabolism. HK2 can mediate glycolysis, which is linked to the release of inflammatory factors. The over-expression of HK2 increases the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, exacerbating the inflammatory reaction. Consequently, HK2 is closely linked to various inflammatory-related diseases affecting multiple systems, including the digestive, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, reproductive systems, as well as rheumatoid arthritis. HK2 is regarded as a novel therapeutic target for inflammatory-related diseases, and this article provides a comprehensive review of its roles in these conditions. Furthermore, the development of potent HK2 inhibitors has garnered significant attention in recent years. Therefore, this review also presents a summary of potential HK2 inhibitors, offering promising prospects for the treatment of inflammatory-related diseases in the future.

m6A-regulated tumor glycolysis: new advances in epigenetics and metabolism

Glycolytic reprogramming is one of the most important features of cancer and plays an integral role in the progression of cancer. In cancer cells, changes in glucose metabolism meet the needs of self-proliferation, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, metastasis, and also affect the immune escape, prognosis evaluation and therapeutic effect of cancer. The n6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA is widespread in eukaryotic cells. Dynamic and reversible m6A modifications are widely involved in the regulation of cancer stem cell renewal and differentiation, tumor therapy resistance, tumor microenvironment, tumor immune escape, and tumor metabolism. Lately, more and more evidences show that m6A modification can affect the glycolysis process of tumors in a variety of ways to regulate the biological behavior of tumors. In this review, we discussed the role of glycolysis in tumor genesis and development, and elaborated in detail the profound impact of m6A modification on different tumor by regulating glycolysis. We believe that m6A modified glycolysis has great significance and potential for tumor treatment.

PI3K/AKT pathway promotes keloid fibroblasts proliferation by enhancing glycolysis under hypoxia

Our previous study demonstrated altered glucose metabolism and enhanced phosphorylation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in keloid fibroblasts (KFb) under hypoxic conditions. However, whether the PI3K/AKT pathway influences KFb cell function by regulating glucose metabolism under hypoxic conditions remains unclear. Here, we show that when PI3K/AKT pathway was inactivated with LY294002, the protein expression of glycolytic enzymes decreased, while the amount of mitochondria and mitochondrial membrane potential increased. The key parameters of extracellular acidification rate markedly diminished, and those of oxygen consumption rate significantly increased after inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway. When the PI3K/AKT pathway was suppressed, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial ROS (mitoROS) were significantly increased. Meanwhile, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were inhibited, and apoptosis was increased when the PI3K/AKT pathway was blocked. Additionally, cell proliferation was compromised when KFb were treated with both SC79 (an activator of the PI3K/AKT pathway) and 2-deoxy-d-glucose (an inhibitor of glycolysis), compared with the SC79 group. Moreover, a positive feedback mechanism was demonstrated between the PI3K/AKT pathway and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Our data collectively demonstrated that the PI3K/AKT pathway promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in KFb under hypoxia by regulating glycolysis, indicating that the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway could be a therapeutic target for keloids.

Changes in the Gut Microbiome Associated with Intussusception in Patients with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by intestinal polyposis, and intestinal intussusception is one of the most urgent complications. While it is known that imbalance of the gut microbiota is highly associated with intestinal disorders, the role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of PJS has not been reported. In this study, we performed 16S rRNA sequencing on stools from 168 patients and 68 healthy family members who lived together to determine the gut microbiome composition of PJS patients. Metagenomics sequencing was further performed on the representative samples (61 PJS patients and 27 healthy family members) to analyze the functional changes. We found that the fecal microbiome of patients with PJS showed a greater variation in β-diversity. An enhancement of Escherichia coli and a reduction of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was identified in PJS patients. Further reduction of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was the characteristic microbial change observed in patients with intussusception. Functional analysis revealed that the abundance of propanoate metabolism was enriched in PJS patients and further enriched in those with intussusception. Escherichia coli was the major contributor to the enrichment of this metabolism pathway, which was associated with the abnormal expression of methylglyoxal synthase (encoded by mgsA) and phosphate acetyltransferase (encoded by pta). Our findings showed a distinct gut microbiome signature in PJS patients and identified the connection between the gut microbiome and intussusception. Alterations in the gut microbiome might be involved in the pathogenesis of PJS and may serve as biomarkers for gastrointestinal surveillance. IMPORTANCE Recent research has established a link between the gut microbiome and polyps and neoplasia, and antibiotic use influences the microbiome and the development of colorectal polyps. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), which is characterized by the early development of benign precursor lesions (polyps), is associated with enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli biofilms. However, the relationship between the gut microbiome and the pathophysiology of PJS has not yet been established. In this study, we found that PJS patients had a distinct microbiome composition, with a greater variation in β-diversity, an increase in Escherichia coli, and a decrease in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. A further reduction of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was observed in patients with intussusception. Moreover, PJS involved increased propanoate metabolism as well as abnormal mgsA and pta expression. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the etiology of PJS and improve disease control strategies.

Comprehensive analyses of the microRNA-messenger RNA-transcription factor regulatory network in mouse and human renal fibrosis

Objective: The aim of this study was to construct a microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA)-transcription factor (TF) regulatory network and explore underlying molecular mechanisms, effective biomarkers, and drugs in renal fibrosis (RF). Methods: A total of six datasets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus. "Limma" and "DESeq2" packages in R software and GEO2R were applied to identify the differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs (DEmiRNAs and DEmRNAs, respectively). The determination and verification of DEmiRNAs and DEmRNAs were performed through the integrated analysis of datasets from five mouse 7 days of unilateral ureteral obstruction datasets and one human chronic kidney disease dataset and the Human Protein Atlas (http://www.proteinatlas.org). Target mRNAs of DEmiRNAs and TFs were predicted by prediction databases and the iRegulon plugin in Cytoscape, respectively. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using STRING, Cytoscape v3.9.1, and CytoNCA. Functional enrichment analysis was performed by DIANA-miRPath v3.0 and R package "clusterProfiler." A miRNA-mRNA-TF network was established using Cytoscape. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to examine the diagnostic value of the key hub genes. Finally, the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and Drug-Gene Interaction database were applied to identify potential drugs. Results: Here, 4 DEmiRNAs and 11 hub genes were determined and confirmed in five mouse datasets, of which Bckdha and Vegfa were further verified in one human dataset and HPA, respectively. Moreover, Bckdha and Vegfa were also predicted by miR-125a-3p and miR-199a-5p, respectively, in humans as in mice. The sequences of miR-125a-3p and miR-199a-5p in mice were identical to those in humans. A total of 6 TFs were predicted to regulate Bckdha and Vegfa across mice and humans; then, a miRNA-mRNA-TF regulatory network was built. Subsequently, ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve value of Vegfa was 0.825 (p = 0.002). Finally, enalapril was identified to target Vegfa for RF therapy. Conclusion: Pax2, Pax5, Sp1, Sp2, Sp3, and Sp4 together with Bckdha-dependent miR-125a-3p/Vegfa-dependent miR-199a-5p formed a co-regulatory network enabling Bckdha/Vegfa to be tightly controlled in the underlying pathogenesis of RF across mice and humans. Vegfa could act as a potential novel diagnostic marker and might be targeted by enalapril for RF therapy.

Lipid Metabolism Interplay in CRC—An Update

Colorectal cancer (CRC) to date still ranks as one of the deadliest cancer entities globally, and despite recent advances, the incidence in young adolescents is dramatically increasing. Lipid metabolism has recently received increased attention as a crucial element for multiple aspects of carcinogenesis and our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms is steadily growing. However, the mechanism how fatty acid metabolism contributes to CRC is still not understood in detail. In this review, we aim to summarize our vastly growing comprehension and the accompanied complexity of cellular fatty acid metabolism in CRC by describing inputs and outputs of intracellular free fatty acid pools and how these contribute to cancer initiation, disease progression and metastasis. We highlight how different lipid pathways can contribute to the aggressiveness of tumors and affect the prognosis of patients. Furthermore, we focus on the role of lipid metabolism in cell communication and interplay within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and beyond. Understanding these interactions in depth might lead to the discovery of novel markers and new therapeutic interventions for CRC. Finally, we discuss the crucial role of fatty acid metabolism as new targetable gatekeeper in colorectal cancer.

Multi-Omics Prognostic Signatures Based on Lipid Metabolism for Colorectal Cancer

Background: The potential biological processes and laws of the biological components in malignant tumors can be understood more systematically and comprehensively through multi-omics analysis. This study elaborately explored the role of lipid metabolism in the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) from the metabonomics and transcriptomics.

Methods: We performed K-means unsupervised clustering algorithm and t test to identify the differential lipid metabolites determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the serum of 236 CRC patients of the First Hospital of Jilin University (JLUFH). Cox regression analysis was used to identify prognosis-associated lipid metabolites and to construct multi-lipid-metabolite prognostic signature. The composite nomogram composed of independent prognostic factors was utilized to individually predict the outcome of CRC patients. Glycerophospholipid metabolism was the most significant enrichment pathway for lipid metabolites in CRC, whose related hub genes (GMRHGs) were distinguished by gene set variation analysis (GSVA) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis were utilized to develop the prognostic signature.

Results: Six-lipid-metabolite and five-GMRHG prognostic signatures were developed, indicating favorable survival stratification effects on CRC patients. Using the independent prognostic factors as variables, we established a composite nomogram to individually evaluate the prognosis of CRC patients. The AUCs of one-, three-, and five-year ROC curves were 0.815, 0.815, and 0.805, respectively, showing auspicious prognostic accuracy. Furthermore, we explored the potential relationship between tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune infiltration. Moreover, the mutational frequency of TP53 in the high-risk group was significantly higher than that in the low-risk group (p < 0.001), while in the coordinate mutational status of TP53, the overall survival of CRC patients in the high-risk group was significantly lower than that in low-risk group with statistical differences.

Conclusion: We identified the significance of lipid metabolism for the prognosis of CRC from the aspects of metabonomics and transcriptomics, which can provide a novel perspective for promoting individualized treatment and revealing the potential molecular biological characteristics of CRC. The composite nomogram including a six-lipid-metabolite prognostic signature is a promising predictor of the prognosis of CRC patients.

Expression of proteins associated with the Warburg-effect and survival in colorectal cancer

Previous research has suggested that the expression of proteins related to the Warburg effect may have prognostic value in colorectal cancer (CRC), but results remain inconsistent. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between Warburg-subtypes and patient survival in a large population-based series of CRC patients. In the present study, we investigated the expression of six proteins related to the Warburg effect (LDHA, GLUT1, MCT4, PKM2, p53, PTEN) by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays (TMAs) from 2,399 incident CRC patients from the prospective Netherlands Cohort Study. Expression levels of the six proteins were combined into a pathway-based sum-score and patients were categorised into three Warburg-subtypes (low/moderate/high). The associations between Warburg-subtypes and CRC-specific and overall survival were investigated using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models. CRC patients were classified as Warburg-low (n = 695, 29.0%), Warburg-moderate (n = 858, 35.8%) or Warburg-high (n = 841, 35.1%). Patients with Warburg-high CRC had the poorest CRC-specific [hazard ratio (HR) 1.17; 95% CI 1.00-1.38] and overall survival (HR 1.19; 95% CI 1.05-1.35), independent of known prognostic factors. In stratified analyses, this was particularly true for patients with tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage III CRC (HR_CRC-specific 1.45; 95% CI 1.10-1.92 and HR_overall 1.47; 95% CI 1.15-1.87), and cancers located in the rectum (HR_overall 1.56; 95% CI 1.15-2.13). To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify the prognostic value of immunohistochemistry-based Warburg-subtypes in CRC. Our data suggest that Warburg-subtypes are related to potentially important differences in CRC survival. Further research is required to validate our findings and to investigate the potential clinical utility of these Warburg-subtypes in CRC.

Interplay between Epigenetics and Cellular Metabolism in Colorectal Cancer

Cellular metabolism alterations have been recognized as one of the most predominant hallmarks of colorectal cancers (CRCs). It is precisely regulated by many oncogenic signaling pathways in all kinds of regulatory levels, including transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels. Among these regulatory factors, epigenetics play an essential role in the modulation of cellular metabolism. On the one hand, epigenetics can regulate cellular metabolism via directly controlling the transcription of genes encoding metabolic enzymes of transporters. On the other hand, epigenetics can regulate major transcriptional factors and signaling pathways that control the transcription of genes encoding metabolic enzymes or transporters, or affecting the translation, activation, stabilization, or translocation of metabolic enzymes or transporters. Interestingly, epigenetics can also be controlled by cellular metabolism. Metabolites not only directly influence epigenetic processes, but also affect the activity of epigenetic enzymes. Actually, both cellular metabolism pathways and epigenetic processes are controlled by enzymes. They are highly intertwined and are essential for oncogenesis and tumor development of CRCs. Therefore, they are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of CRCs. In recent years, both epigenetic and metabolism inhibitors are studied for clinical use to treat CRCs. In this review, we depict the interplay between epigenetics and cellular metabolism in CRCs and summarize the underlying molecular mechanisms and their potential applications for clinical therapy.

Shikonin inhibits the Warburg effect, cell proliferation, invasion and migration by downregulating PFKFB2 expression in lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most lethal diseases and therefore poses a significant threat to human health. The Warburg effect, which is the observation that cancer cells predominately produce energy through glycolysis, even under aerobic conditions, is a hallmark of cancer. 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 2 (PFKFB) is an important regulator of glycolysis. Shikonin is a Traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which has been reported to exert antitumor effects. The present study aimed to investigate the anticancer activity of shikonin in lung cancer. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays were used to analyze proliferation in A549 and H446 cells. Wound healing and Transwell assays were used to measure migration and invasion in A549 and H446 cells. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry. Lactate levels, glucose uptake and cellular ATP levels were measured using their corresponding commercial kits. Western blotting was performed to analyze the protein expression levels of key enzymes involved in aerobic glucose metabolism. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to analyze the mRNA expression levels of PFKFB2. The results of the present study revealed that PFKFB2 expression levels were significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues. Shikonin treatment decreased the proliferation, migration, invasion, glucose uptake, lactate levels, ATP levels and PFKFB2 expression levels and increased apoptosis in lung cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The overexpression of PFKFB2 increased the proliferation, migration, glucose uptake, lactate levels and ATP levels in lung cancer cells, while the knockdown of PFKFB2 expression exerted the opposite effects. Moreover, there were no significant differences in lung cancer cell migration, apoptosis, glucose uptake, lactate levels and ATP levels between cells with knocked down PFKFB2 expression or treated with shikonin and the knockdown of PFKFB2 in cells treated with shikonin. In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed that shikonin inhibited the Warburg effect and exerted antitumor activity in lung cancer cells, which was associated with the downregulation of PFKFB2 expression.

Collagen Type III Alpha 1 chain regulated by GATA-Binding Protein 6 affects Type II IFN response and propanoate metabolism in the recurrence of lower grade glioma

Some studies suggested the prognosis value of immune gene in lower grade glioma (LGG). Recurrence in LGG is a tough clinical problem for many LGG patients. Therefore, prognosis biomarker is required. Multivariate prognosis Cox model was constructed and then calculated the risk score. And differential expressed transcription factors (TFs) and differential expressed immune genes (DEIGs) were co‐analysed. Besides, significant immune cells/pathways were identified by single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Moreover, gene set variation analysis (GSVA) and univariate Cox regression were applied to filter prognostic signalling pathways. Additionally, significant DEIG and immune cells/pathways, and significant DEIG and pathways were co‐analysed. Further, differential enriched pathways were identified by GSEA. In sum, a scientific hypothesis for recurrence LGG including TF, immune gene and immune cell/pathway was established. In our study, a total of 536 primary LGG samples, 2,498 immune genes and 318 TFs were acquired. Based on edgeR method, 2,164 DEGs, 2,498 DEIGs and 31 differentials expressed TFs were identified. A total of 106 DEIGs were integrated into multivariate prognostic model. Additionally, the AUC of the ROC curve was 0.860, and P value of Kaplan‐Meier curve < 0.001. GATA6 (TF) and COL3A1 (DEIG) were selected (R = 0.900, P < 0.001, positive) as significant TF‐immune gene links. Type II IFN response (P < 0.001) was the significant immune pathway. Propanoate metabolism (P < 0.001) was the significant KEGG pathway. We proposed that COL3A1 was positively regulated by GATA6, and by effecting type II IFN response and propanoate metabolism, COL3A1 involved in LGG recurrence.

MicroRNA‑22 mediates the cisplatin resistance of osteosarcoma cells by inhibiting autophagy via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the bone affecting children and adolescents. Chemotherapy is now considered as a standard component of OS treatment, not only for children, but also for adults. However, chemoresistance continues to pose a challenge to therapy. Inhibition of autophagy has been demonstrated to decrease chemoresistance in OS. Moreover, microRNA-22 (miR-22) inhibits autophagy, leading to an improvement in the sensitivity of cisplatin (CDDP) in OS. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate whether miR-22 could mediate the CDDP resistance of OS cells by inhibiting autophagy via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Cell proliferation assay, LC3 flow cytometry assay and monodansylcadaverine staining in MG63 cells and CDDP resistance cells (MG63/CDDP) were performed to explore to role of miR-22 and CDDP in OS chemoresistance. Inoculation of tumor cells in an in vivo model, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay, western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry analysis were performed to investigate the role of miR-22 and CDDP in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway as it is affected by autophagy. The results revealed that miR-22 inhibited the proliferation of MG63 and MG63/CDDP cells, and enhanced the anti-proliferative ability of CDDP in vivo and in vitro. miR-22 mediated the CDDP resistance of OS cells by inhibiting autophagy and decreasing CDDP-induced autophagy via downregulation of the expression of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR at the mRNA level, and the expression of PI3K, phosphorylated (p)-Akt, and p-mTOR at the protein level. It was also convincingly demonstrated that miR-22 mediates the CDDP resistance of OS by inhibiting autophagy via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, in the MG63 cells that were affected by CDDP, the role of miR-22 was shown to be similar to that of the investigated inhibitor of PI3K (wortmannin) in terms of regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and wortmannin could also promote the effect of miR-22. Interestingly, CDDP was demonstrated to induce autophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, whereas the pathway was upregulated in the state of chemoresistance. In conclusion, downregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway was shown to assist in the process of preventing chemoresistance.

Berberine suppresses colon cancer cell proliferation by inhibiting the SCAP/SREBP-1 signaling pathway-mediated lipogenesis

Lipid metabolism is a significant section of energy homeostasis, and it affects the development of various cancers. Previous studies have revealed that berberine has strong anticancer and blood lipid-lowering effects. Here, we further investigated the effects of berberine on cell proliferation and lipogenesis in colon cancer cells and the relationship between the two effects. We found that berberine inhibited cell proliferation by inducing G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in colon cancer cells. Moreover, the expressions of key lipogenic enzymes were down-regulated by berberine and led to the suppressed lipid synthesis, which was linked to cell proliferation via Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Importantly, berberine inhibited sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) activation and SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) expression, resulting in the downregulation of these lipogenic enzymes. Knockdown of SCAP by shRNA could abolish the effect of berberine on SREBP-1 activation. Besides the inhibitory effects in vitro, berberine suppressed the growth and lipogenesis of colon cancer xenograft in a SCAP-dependent manner as well. Together, our results suggest that berberine may serve as a candidate against tumor growth of colon cancer partially through targeting SCAP/SREBP-1 pathway driving lipogenesis.

miR-613 inhibits Warburg effect in gastric cancer by targeting PFKFB2

miR-613 has been demonstrated to play critical roles in tumorigenesis and progression of a various type of cancers. However, its role and expression significance remain unclear in gastric cancer (GC). We detected the expression of miR-613 in 176 paired GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and found that miR-613 was significantly downregulated in GC tissues and its downregulation was correlated with T stage, lymph node invasion and advanced AJCC stages. Moreover, miR-613 expression could be an independent prognostic factor of GC. Biological function analysis indicated that miR-613 inhibited cell proliferation and invasion. Further analysis suggested that miR-613 inhibited Warburg effect of GC cells. Mechanically, we identified that miR-613 could directly bind to the 3'UTR of PFKFB2, thereby suppressing the expression of PFKFB2, which in turn, regulating glycolysis metabolism and cell growth. In conclusion, miR-613 served as a tumor suppressor by targeting PFKFB2, indicating that detecting miR-613 and modulation of miR-613 expression could be potential marker and clinical approach in GC patients.

Identification of novel PI3Kδ inhibitors by docking, ADMET prediction and molecular dynamics simulations

BACKGROUND

Phosphoinositide-3-kinase Delta (PI3Kδ) plays a key role in B-cell signal transduction and inhibition of PI3Kδ is confirmed to have clinical benefit in certain types of activation of B-cell malignancies. Virtual screening techniques have been used to discover new molecules for developing novel PI3Kδ inhibitors with little side effects.

METHOD

Computer aided drug design method were used to rapidly screen optimal PI3Kδ inhibitors from the Asinex database. Virtual screening based molecular docking was performed to find novel and potential lead compound targeting PI3Kδ, at first. Subsequently, drug likeness studies were carried out on the retrieved hits to evaluate and analyze their drug like properties such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) for toxicity prediction. Three least toxic compounds were selected for the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for 30 ns in order to validate its stability inside the active site of PI3Kδ receptor.

RESULTS

Based on the present in silico analysis, two molecules have been identified which occupied the same binding pocket confirming the selection of active site. ASN 16296138 (Glide score: -12.175 kcal/mol, cdocker binding energy: -42.975 kcal/mol and ΔG_bind value: -90.457 kcal/mol) and BAS 00227397 (Glide score: -10.988 kcal/mol, cdocker binding energy: -39.3376 kcal/mol and ΔG_bind value: -81.953 kcal/mol) showed docking affinities comparatively much stronger than those of already reported known inhibitors against PI3Kδ. These two ligand's behaviors also showed consistency during the simulation of protein-ligand complexes for 30000 ps respectively, which is indicative of its stability in the receptor pocket.

CONCLUSION

Compound ASN 16296138 and BAS 00227397 are potential candidates for experimental validation of biological activity against PI3Kδ in future drug discovery studies. This study smoothes the path for the development of novel leads with improved binding properties, high drug likeness, and low toxicity to humans for the treatment of cancer.

RETRACTED: Effects of Artesunate on chondrocyte proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in rat models with rheumatoid arthritis

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. Concern was raised about the reliability of the Western blot results in Figure 5D and 5F, which appear to have a similar phenotype as contained within another publication, as detailed here: https://pubpeer.com/publications/CD4DF7B6DCA28182EC6809846F3653; and here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r0MyIYpagBc58BRF9c3luWNlCX8VUvUuPyYYXzxWvgY/edit#gid=262337249. Concerns were also raised about the provenance of the flow cytometry data in Figure 7A. In addition, suspected duplications were detected in Western blots contained within Figure 5E and 5F. The journal requested the corresponding author comment on these concerns and provide raw data. The corresponding author communicated that the raw data was not available and some of the results were not repeatable and therefore not solid enough to support the conclusions. The authors requested retraction of this article. The Editor-in-Chief assessed this case and decided to retract the article.

By inhibiting PFKFB3, aspirin overcomes sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the few cancers with a continuous increase in incidence and mortality. Drug resistance is a major problem in the treatment of HCC. In this study, two sorafenib-resistant HCC cell lines and a nude mouse subcutaneously tumor model were used to explore the possible mechanisms leading to sorafenib resistance, and to investigate whether aspirin could increase the sensitivity of hepatoma cells to sorafenib. The combination of aspirin and sorafenib resulted in a synergistic antitumor effect against liver tumors both in vitro and in vivo. High glycolysis and PFKFB3 overexpression occupied a dominant position in sorafenib resistance, and can be targeted and overcome by aspirin. Aspirin plus sorafenib induced apoptosis in tumors without inducing weight loss, hepatotoxicity or inflammation. Our results suggest that aspirin overcomes sorafenib resistance and their combination may be an effective treatment approach for HCC.

MPI depletion enhances O-GlcNAcylation of p53 and suppresses the Warburg effect

Rapid cellular proliferation in early development and cancer depends on glucose metabolism to fuel macromolecule biosynthesis. Metabolic enzymes are presumed regulators of this glycolysis-driven metabolic program, known as the Warburg effect; however, few have been identified. We uncover a previously unappreciated role for Mannose phosphate isomerase (MPI) as a metabolic enzyme required to maintain Warburg metabolism in zebrafish embryos and in both primary and malignant mammalian cells. The functional consequences of MPI loss are striking: glycolysis is blocked and cells die. These phenotypes are caused by induction of p53 and accumulation of the glycolytic intermediate fructose 6-phosphate, leading to engagement of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP), increased O-GlcNAcylation, and p53 stabilization. Inhibiting the HBP through genetic and chemical methods reverses p53 stabilization and rescues the Mpi-deficient phenotype. This work provides mechanistic evidence by which MPI loss induces p53, and identifies MPI as a novel regulator of p53 and Warburg metabolism.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.22477.001

Cross-Talk between Alternatively Spliced UGT1A Isoforms and Colon Cancer Cell Metabolism

Alternative splicing at the human glucuronosyltransferase 1 gene locus (UGT1) produces alternate isoforms UGT1A_i2s that control glucuronidation activity through protein-protein interactions. Here, we hypothesized that UGT1A_i2s function as a complex protein network connecting other metabolic pathways with an influence on cancer cell metabolism. This is based on a pathway enrichment analysis of proteomic data that identified several high-confidence candidate interaction proteins of UGT1A_i2 proteins in human tissues-namely, the rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis pyruvate kinase (PKM), which plays a critical role in cancer cell metabolism and tumor growth. The partnership of UGT1A_i2 and PKM2 was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation in the HT115 colon cancer cells and was supported by a partial colocalization of these two proteins. In support of a functional role for this partnership, depletion of UGT1A_i2 proteins in HT115 cells enforced the Warburg effect, with a higher glycolytic rate at the expense of mitochondrial respiration, and led to lactate accumulation. Untargeted metabolomics further revealed a significantly altered cellular content of 58 metabolites, including many intermediates derived from the glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways. These metabolic changes were associated with a greater migration potential. The potential relevance of our observations is supported by the down-regulation of UGT1A_i2 mRNA in colon tumors compared with normal tissues. Alternate UGT1A variants may thus be part of the expanding compendium of metabolic pathways involved in cancer biology directly contributing to the oncogenic phenotype of colon cancer cells. Findings uncover new aspects of UGT functions diverging from their transferase activity.