Micromanaging aerobic respiration and glycolysis in cancer cells

Identification and validation of protein biomarkers for predicting gastrointestinal stromal tumor recurrence

We conducted a proteomic analysis using mass spectrometry to identify and validate protein biomarkers for accurately predicting recurrence risk in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) patients, focusing on differentially expressed proteins in metastatic versus primary GIST tissues. We selected five biomarkers-GPX4, RBM4, TPM3, PFKFB2, and PGAM5-and validated their expressions in primary tumors of recurrent and non-recurrent GIST patients via immunohistochemistry. Our analysis of the association between these biomarkers with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), along with their interrelationships, revealed that immunohistochemistry confirmed significantly higher expressions of these biomarkers in primary GIST tissues of recurrent patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that high expressions of GPX4, RBM4, TPM3, PFKFB2, and PGAM5 correlated with lower RFS, and GPX4 and RBM4 with lower OS. All biomarker pairs showed positive associations, with high expressions correlating with increased recurrence rates, and GPX4 and RBM4 with higher mortality rates. In conclusion, the biomarkers GPX4, RBM4, TPM3, PFKFB2, and PGAM5 are clinically relevant for predicting GIST recurrence, with their high expressions in primary tumors linked to poorer RFS and OS. They serve as potential prognostic indicators, enabling early treatment and improved outcomes. The observed interrelationships among these biomarkers further validate their accuracy in predicting GIST recurrence.

Interference with PLA2G16 promotes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and inhibits the reprogramming of glucose metabolism in multiple myeloma cells by modulating the Hippo/YAP signaling pathway

Multiple myeloma, which is a clonal plasma cell tumor, derives from a postmitotic lymphoid B-cell lineage and remains untreatable. Group XVI phospholipase A2 (PLA2G16) can either be a tumor suppressor or an oncogene in different types of cancer. This study was intended to explore the role of PLA2G16 in multiple myeloma and to reveal the reaction mechanism. The mRNA and protein expressions of PLA2G16 in human bone marrow stromal cell line HS-5 and multiple myeloma cells were assessed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot. The transfection efficacy of sh-PLA2G16 and oe-YAP was examined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot. Through cell counting kit-8 assay and 5-ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine staining, multiple myeloma cell viability and proliferation were detected. Flow cytometry was used to measure cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution. Oxygen consumption rate, the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I-V, and the activity of caspase-3 were estimated with Seahorse XF24 analyzer, oxidative phosphorylation activity assay kit, and caspase-3 assay kit, respectively. Lactate production and glucose consumption were evaluated usingcorresponding assay kits. Western blot was employed to meaure proteins associated with cell cycle, glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway as well as Hippo/YAP signaling pathway. In this study, PLA2G16 expression was greatly increased in multiple myeloma cells and PLA2G16 silence inhibited cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, facilitated cell cycle arrest, and suppressed the reprogramming of glucose metabolism in multiple myeloma. It was also identified that PLA2G16 depletion inhibited the Hippo/YAP signaling pathway. Further experiments revealed that the overexpression of YAP partially reversed the inhibitory effects of PLA2G16 silence on multiple myeloma cell malignant development and the reprogramming of glucose metabolism. Collectively, PLA2G16 silence impeded multiple myeloma progression and inhibited glucose metabolism reprogramming by blocking the Hippo/YAP signaling pathway.

A gene for all seasons: The evolutionary consequences of HIF-1 in carcinogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis

Oxygen played a pivotal role in the evolution of multicellularity during the Cambrian Explosion. Not surprisingly, responses to fluctuating oxygen concentrations are integral to the evolution of cancer-a disease characterized by the breakdown of multicellularity. Poorly organized tumor vasculature results in chaotic patterns of blood flow characterized by large spatial and temporal variations in intra-tumoral oxygen concentrations. Hypoxia-inducible growth factor (HIF-1) plays a pivotal role in enabling cells to adapt, metabolize, and proliferate in low oxygen conditions. HIF-1 is often constitutively activated in cancers, underscoring its importance in cancer progression. Here, we argue that the phenotypic changes mediated by HIF-1, in addition to adapting the cancer cells to their local environment, also "pre-adapt" them for proliferation at distant, metastatic sites. HIF-1-mediated adaptations include a metabolic shift towards anaerobic respiration or glycolysis, activation of cell survival mechanisms like phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic reprogramming, and formation of tumor vasculature through angiogenesis. Hypoxia induced epigenetic reprogramming can trigger epithelial to mesenchymal transition in cancer cells-the first step in the metastatic cascade. Highly glycolytic cells facilitate local invasion by acidifying the tumor microenvironment. New blood vessels, formed due to angiogenesis, provide cancer cells a conduit to the circulatory system. Moreover, survival mechanisms acquired by cancer cells in the primary site allow them to remodel tissue at the metastatic site generating tumor promoting microenvironment. Thus, hypoxia in the primary tumor promoted adaptations conducive to all stages of the metastatic cascade from the initial escape entry into a blood vessel, intravascular survival, extravasation into distant tissues, and establishment of secondary tumors.

Investigating the molecular mechanisms of microRNA‑409‑3p in tumor progression: Towards targeted therapeutics (Review)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of non‑coding RNAs that exert master regulatory functions in post‑-transcriptional gene expression. Accumulating evidence shows that miRNAs can either promote or suppress tumorigenesis by regulating different target genes or pathways and may be involved in the occurrence of carcinoma. miR‑409‑3p is dysregulated in a variety of malignant cancers. It plays a fundamental role in numerous cellular biological processes, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, autophagy, angiogenesis and glycolysis. In addition, studies have shown that miR‑409‑3p is expected to become a non‑invasive biomarker. Identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying miR‑409‑3p‑mediated tumor progression will help investigate miR‑409‑3p‑based targeted therapy for human cancers. The present review comprehensively summarized the recently published literature on miR‑409‑3p, with a focus on the regulation and function of miR‑409‑3p in various types of cancer, and discussed the clinical implications of miR‑409‑3p, providing new insight for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

Genetically programmable cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles for targeted combination therapy of colorectal cancer

Cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles possess inherent advantages derived from their membrane structure and surface antigens, including prolonged circulation in the bloodstream, specific cell recognition and targeting capabilities, and potential for immunotherapy. Herein, we introduce a cell membrane biomimetic nanodrug platform termed MPB-3BP@CM NPs. Comprising microporous Prussian blue nanoparticles (MPB NPs) serving as both a photothermal sensitizer and carrier for 3-bromopyruvate (3BP), these nanoparticles are cloaked in a genetically programmable cell membrane displaying variants of signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) with enhanced affinity to CD47. As a result, MPB-3BP@CM NPs inherit the characteristics of the original cell membrane, exhibiting an extended circulation time in the bloodstream and effectively targeting CD47 on the cytomembrane of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Notably, blocking CD47 with MPB-3BP@CM NPs enhances the phagocytosis of CRC cells by macrophages. Additionally, 3BP, an inhibitor of hexokinase II (HK2), suppresses glycolysis, leading to a reduction in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels and lactate production. Besides, it promotes the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) towards an anti-tumor M1 phenotype. Furthermore, integration with MPB NPs-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) enhances the therapeutic efficacy against tumors. These advantages make MPB-3BP@CM NPs an attractive platform for the future development of innovative therapeutic approaches for CRC. Concurrently, it introduces a universal approach for engineering disease-tailored cell membranes for tumor therapy.

microRNAs, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity as the main inducers in the pathobiology of cancer development

Cancer is one of the most serious leading causes of death in the world. Many eclectic factors are involved in cancer progression including genetic and epigenetic alongside environmental ones. In this account, the performance and fluctuations of microRNAs are significant in cancer diagnosis and treatment, particularly as diagnostic biomarkers in oncology. So, microRNAs manage and control the gene expression after transcription by mRNA degradation, or also they can inhibit their translation. Conspicuously, these molecular structures take part in controlling the cellular, physiological and pathological functions, which many of them can accomplish as tumor inhibitors or oncogenes. Relatively, Oxidative stress is defined as the inequality between the creation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's ability to detoxify the reactive mediators or repair the resulting injury. ROS and microRNAs have been recognized as main cancer promoters and possible treatment targets. Importantly, genotoxicity has been established as the primary reason for many diseases as well as several malignancies. The procedures have no obvious link with mutagenicity and influence the organization, accuracy of the information, or fragmentation of DNA. Conclusively, mutations in these patterns can lead to carcinogenesis. In this review article, we report the impressive and practical roles of microRNAs, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity in the pathobiology of cancer development in conjunction with their importance as reliable cancer biomarkers and their association with circulating miRNA, exosomes and exosomal miRNAs, RNA remodeling, DNA methylation, and other molecular elements in oncology.

NREP, transcriptionally upregulated by HIF-1α, aggravates breast cancer cell growth and metastasis by promoting glycolysis

Breast cancer (BC) poses a great threat to women's health. Neuronal regeneration related protein (NREP) is a multifunctional protein that is involved in embryonic development, regeneration, and human disease. However, the biological function of NREP in tumors is rarely reported and its role in BC remains unknown. Bioinformatics analysis showed that NREP is highly expressed and closely correlated with poor survival in BC patients. Under hypoxic conditions, NREP was upregulated in BC cells, and this promotion was reversed by hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1α suppression. Luciferase reporter system and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that HIF-1α directly binds to the promoter of NREP to increase the transcriptional activity of NREP. NREP suppression inhibited cell proliferation, arrested the cell cycle at the G1/S phase, and promoted apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in BC cells. Suppression of NREP decreased the tube formation ability of HUVECs. In addition, NREP downregulation showed an inhibition effect on cell migration, invasion, and EMT of BC cells. In NREP overexpressed cells, all these changes were reversed. In vivo, animal experiments also confirmed that NREP promotes BC tumor growth and metastasis. In addition, NREP promoted cellular glycolysis and enhanced the levels of glucose consumption, ATP, lactate production, and glucose transporters expression in NREP-overexpressed BC cells. In summary, our results demonstrated that NREP could be transcriptional activated by HIF-1α, which may aggravate BC tumor growth and metastasis by promoting cellular glycolysis. This result suggested that NREP may play an essential part in BC progression.

Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Glioma Stem Cells Affect Glycometabolic Reprogramming of Glioma Cells Through the miR-10b-5p/PTEN/PI3K/Akt Pathway

OBJECTIVE

Glioma is one of the most prevalently diagnosed types of primary malignant brain tumors. Glioma stem cells (GSCs) are crucial in glioma recurrence. This study aims to elucidate the mechanism by which extracellular vehicles (EVs) derived from GSCs modulate glycometabolic reprogramming in glioma.

METHODS

Xenograft mouse models and cell models of glioma were established and treated with GSC-EVs. Additionally, levels and activities of PFK1, LDHA, and FASN were assessed to evaluate the effect of GSC-EVs on glycometabolic reprogramming in glioma. Glioma cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were evaluated using MTT, EdU, Colony formation, and Transwell assays. miR-10b-5p expression was determined, with its target gene PTEN and downstream pathway PI3K/Akt evaluated. The involvement of miR-10b-5p and the PI3K/Akt pathway in the effect of GSC-EVs on glycometabolic reprogramming was tested through joint experiments.

RESULTS

GSC-EVs facilitated glycometabolic reprogramming in glioma mice, along with enhancing glucose uptake, lactate level, and adenosine monophosphate-to-adenosine triphosphate ratio. Moreover, GSC-EV treatment potentiated glioma cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, reinforced cell resistance to temozolomide, and raised levels and activities of PFK1, LDHA, and FASN. miR-10b-5p was highly-expressed in GSC-EV-treated glioma cells while being carried into glioma cells by GSC-EVs. miR-10b-5p targeted PTEN and activated the PI3K/Akt pathway, hence stimulating glycometabolic reprogramming.

CONCLUSION

GSC-EVs target PTEN and activate the PI3K/Akt pathway through carrying miR-10b-5p, subsequently accelerating glycometabolic reprogramming in glioma, which might provide new insights into glioma treatment.

circFTO from M2 macrophage-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEV) enhances NSCLC malignancy by regulation miR-148a-3pPDK4 axis

BACKGROUND

Accumulation studies found that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a predominant cell in tumor microenvironment (TME), which function essentially during tumor progression. By releasing bioactive molecules, including circRNA, small extracellular vesicles (sEV) modulate immune cell functions in the TME, thereby affecting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. Nevertheless, biology functions and molecular mechanisms of M2 macrophage-derived sEV circRNAs in NSCLC are unclear.

METHODS

Cellular experiments were conducted to verify the M2 macrophage-derived sEV (M2-EV) roles in NSCLC. Differential circRNA expression in M0 and M2-EV was validated by RNA sequencing. circFTO expression in NSCLC patients and cells was investigated via real-time PCR and FISH. The biological mechanism of circFTO in NSCLC was validated by experiments. Our team isolated sEV from M2 macrophages (M2Ms) and found that M2-EV treatment promoted NSCLC CP, migration, and glycolysis.

RESULTS

High-throughput sequencing found that circFTO was highly enriched in M2-EV. FISH and RT-qPCR confirmed that circFTO expression incremented in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Clinical studies confirmed that high circFTO expression correlated negatively with NSCLC patient survival. Luciferase reporter analysis confirmed that miR-148a-3p and PDK4 were downstream targets of circFTO. circFTO knockdown inhibited NSCLC cell growth and metastasis in in vivo experiments. Downregulating miR-148a-3p or overexpressing PDK4 restored the malignancy of NSCLC, including proliferation, migration, and aerobic glycolysis after circFTO silencing.

CONCLUSION

The study found that circFTO from M2-EV promoted NSCLC cell progression and glycolysis through miR-148a-3p/PDK4 axis. circFTO is a promising prognostic and diagnostic NSCLC biomarker and has the potential to be a candidate NSCLC therapy target.

Evaluation of IP3R3 Gene Silencing Effect on Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (PDH) Enzyme Activity in Breast Cancer Cells with and Without Estrogen Receptor

Background

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), a critical calcium ion (Ca2+) regulator, plays a vital role in breast cancer (BC) metabolism. Dysregulated IP3R in BC cells can drive abnormal growth or cell death. Estradiol increases IP3R type 3 (IP3R3) levels in BC, promoting cell proliferation and metabolic changes, including enhanced pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, which, when reduced, leads to cell apoptosis. The study silenced IP3R3 to assess its impact on PDH.

Materials and Methods

The study used IP3R3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) to target Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Transfection success was confirmed by flow cytometry. Cell viability and gene silencing were evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Protein expression and cellular activity were analyzed through western blotting and PDH activity measurement.

Results

Transfecting MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with IP3R3 siRNA achieved a 65% transfection rate without significant toxicity. IP3R3 gene silencing effectively reduced IP3R3 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels in both cell lines, leading to decreased PDH enzyme activity, especially in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Conclusion

The study highlights a link between high IP3R3 gene silencing and reduced PDH activity, with higher IP3R3 expression in estrogen-independent (MDA-MB-231) compared to estrogen-dependent (MCF-7) cell lines. This suggests a potential impact on BC metabolism and tumor growth via regulation of PDH activity.

A detailed insight of the tumor targeting using nanocarrier drug delivery system

Human struggle against the deadly disease conditions is continued since ages. The contribution of science and technology in fighting against these diseases cannot be ignored exclusively due to the invention of novel procedure and products, extending their size ranges from micro to nano. Recently nanotechnology has been gaining more consideration for its ability to diagnose and treat different cancers. Different nanoparticles have been used to evade the issues related with conservative anticancer delivery systems, including their nonspecificity, adverse effects and burst release. These nanocarriers including, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), liposomes, nano lipid carriers (NLCs), nano micelles, nanocomposites, polymeric and magnetic nanocarriers, have brought revolutions in antitumor drug delivery. Nanocarriers improved the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs with better accumulation at the specific site with sustained release, improved bioavailability and apoptosis of the cancer cells while bypassing the normal cells. In this review, the cancer targeting techniques and surface modification on nanoparticles are discussed briefly with possible challenges and opportunities. It can be concluded that understanding the role of nanomedicine in tumor treatment is significant, and therefore, the modern progressions in this arena is essential to be considered for a prosperous today and an affluent future of tumor patients.

Comprehensive analysis of the lysine succinylome in fish oil-treated prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer (PCa) poses a significant health threat to males, and research has shown that fish oil (FO) can impede PCa progression by activating multiple mitochondria-related pathways. Our research is focused on investigating the impact of FO on succinylation, a posttranslational modification that is closely associated with mitochondria in PCa cells. This study employed a mass spectrometry-based approach to investigate succinylation in PCa cells. Bioinformatics analysis of these succinylated proteins identified glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 2 (GOT2) protein as a key player in PCa cell proliferation. Immunoprecipitation and RNA interference technologies validated the functional data. Further analyses revealed the significance of GOT2 protein in regulating nucleotide synthesis by providing aspartate, which is critical for the survival and proliferation of PCa cells. Our findings suggest that FO-dependent GOT2 succinylation status has the potential to inhibit building block generation. This study lays a solid foundation for future research into the role of succinylation in various biological processes. This study highlights the potential use of FO as a nutrition supplement for managing and slowing down PCa progression.

Construction of SLC16A1/3 Targeted Gallic Acid-Iron-Embelin Nanoparticles for Regulating Glycolysis and Redox Pathways in Cervical Cancer

SLC16A1 and SLC16A3 (SLC16A1/3) are highly expressed in cervical cancers and associated with the malignant biological behavior of cancer. SLC16A1/3 is the critical hub for regulating the internal and external environment, glycolysis, and redox homeostasis in cervical cancer cells. Inhibiting SLC16A1/3 provides a new thought to eliminate cervical cancer effectively. There are few reports on effective treatment strategies to eliminate cervical cancer by simultaneously targeting SLC16A1/3. GEO database analysis and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction experiment were used to confirm the high expression of SLC16A1/3. The potential inhibitor of SLC16A1/3 was screened from Siwu Decoction by using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. The mRNA levels and protein levels of SLC16A1/3 in SiHa and HeLa cells treated by Embelin (EMB) were clarified, respectively. Furthermore, the Gallic acid-iron (GA-Fe) drug delivery system was used to improve its anti-cancer performance. Compared with normal cervical cells, SLC16A1/3 mRNA was over-expressed in SiHa and HeLa cells. Through the analysis of Siwu Decoction, a simultaneously targeted SLC16A1/3 inhibitor EMB was discovered. It was found for the first time that EMB promoted lactic acid accumulation and further induced redox dyshomeostasis and glycolysis disorder by simultaneously inhibiting SLC16A1/3. The gallic acid-iron-Embelin (GA-Fe@EMB) drug delivery system delivered EMB, which had a synergistic anti-cervical cancer effect. Under the irradiation of a near-infrared laser, the GA-Fe@EMB could elevate the temperature of the tumor area effectively. Subsequently, EMB was released and mediated the lactic acid accumulation and the GA-Fe nanoparticle synergistic Fenton reaction to promote ROS accumulation, thereby increasing the lethality of the nanoparticles on cervical cancer cells. GA-Fe@EMB can target cervical cancer marker SLC16A1/3 to regulate glycolysis and redox pathways, synergistically with photothermal therapy, which provides a new avenue for the synergistic treatment of malignant cervical cancer.

Transcutaneous carbon dioxide application suppresses the expression of cancer-associated fibroblasts markers in oral squamous cell carcinoma xenograft mouse model

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common head and neck cancer. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). As CAFs promote tumor progression and hypoxia in the TME, regulating the conversion of normal fibroblasts (NFs) into CAFs is essential for improving the prognosis of patients with OSCC. We have previously reported the antitumor effects of transcutaneous carbon dioxide (CO2) application in OSCC. However, the effects of reducing hypoxia in the TME remain unclear. In this study, we investigated whether CO2 administration improves the TME by evaluating CAFs marker expression. Human OSCC cells (HSC-3) and normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) were coinjected subcutaneously into the dorsal region of mice. CO2 gas was applied twice a week for 3 weeks. The tumors were harvested six times after transcutaneous CO2 application. The expression of CAFs markers (α-SMA, FAP, PDPN, and TGF-β) were evaluated by using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining. The expression of α-SMA, FAP, PDPN, and TGF-β was significantly increased over time after co-injection. In the CO2-treated group, tumor growth was significantly suppressed after treatment initiation. In addition, the mRNA expression of these markers was significantly inhibited. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining revealed a significant decrease in the protein expression of all CAFs markers in the CO2-treated group. We confirmed that transcutaneous CO2 application suppressed CAFs marker expression and tumor growth in OSCC xenograft mouse model.

Raf/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway Is Involved in the Inhibition of Glioma Cell Proliferation and Invasion in the Ketogenic Microenvironment

OBJECTIVE

A high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet has been used to treat malignant glioma, in which the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is overactivated. However, whether the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is involved in the therapeutic effect of ketone bodies remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of a major ketone body, 3-hydroxybutyric acid (3-HBA), on the proliferation and metastasis of malignant glioblastoma cells and the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Two human malignant glioblastoma cell lines (U87 and U251) were treated with different concentrations of 3-HBA with or without the Raf inhibitor PAF C-16 for 24 h. Cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell invasion, and phospholipase D1 (PLD1) activity were determined. Protein and gene expression levels of Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway members were examined.

RESULTS

3-HBA significantly decreased cell proliferation, invasion, and intracellular PLD1 activity in both U87 and U251 glioblastoma cell lines. 3-HBA treatment significantly increased the proportion of cells in the G1 phase and decreased the proportion of cells in S phase in U87 cells. In the U251 line, the proportion of treated cells in S phase was increased and proportion of cells in G2 was decreased. 3-HBA treatment also significantly decreased the protein expression levels of Raf, MEK, p-MEK, ERK, p-ERK, and PLD1 while increasing p53 expression; an effect that was similar to treatment with the Raf inhibitor. Co-treatment of 3-HBA with the Raf inhibitor further enhanced the effects of the 3-HBA in both cell lines.

CONCLUSION

We confirmed that a ketogenic microenvironment can inhibit glioma cell proliferation and invasion by downregulating the expression of PLD1 through the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Anti-tumor effects of novel alkannin derivatives with potent selectivity on comprehensive analysis

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic approaches based on glycolysis and energy metabolism of tumor cells are new promising strategies for the treatment of cancer. Currently, researches on the inhibition of pyruvate kinase M2, a key rate limiting enzyme in glycolysis, have been corroborated as an effective cancer therapy. Alkannin is a potent pyruvate kinase M2 inhibitor. However, its non-selective cytotoxicity has affected its subsequent clinical application. Thus, it needs to be structurally modified to develop novel derivatives with high selectivity.

PURPOSE

Our study aimed to ameliorate the toxicity of alkannin through structural modification and elucidate the mechanism of the superior derivative 23 in lung cancer therapy.

METHODS

On the basis of the principle of collocation, different amino acids and oxygen-containing heterocycles were introduced into the hydroxyl group of the alkannin side chain. We examined the cell viability of all derivatives on three tumor cells (HepG2, A549 and HCT116) and two normal cells (L02 and MDCK) by MTT assay. Besides, the effect of derivative 23 on the morphology of A549 cells as observed by Giemsa and DAPI staining, respectively. Flow cytometry was performed to assess the effects of derivative 23 on apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. To further assess the effect of derivative 23 on the Pyruvate kinase M2 in glycolysis, an enzyme activity assay and western blot assay were performed. Finally, in vivo the antitumor activity and safety of the derivative 23 were evaluated by using Lewis mouse lung cancer xenograft model.

RESULTS

Twenty-three novel alkannin derivatives were designed and synthesized to improve the cytotoxicity selectivity. Among these derivatives, derivative 23 showed the highest cytotoxicity selectivity between cancer and normal cells. The anti-proliferative activity of derivative 23 on A549 cells (IC₅₀ = 1.67 ± 0.34 μM) was 10-fold higher than L02 cells (IC₅₀ = 16.77 ± 1.44 μM) and 5-fold higher than MDCK cells (IC₅₀ = 9.23 ± 0.29 μM) respectively. Subsequently, fluorescent staining and flow cytometric analysis showed that derivative 23 was able to induce apoptosis of A549 cells and arrest the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. In addition, the mechanistic studies suggested derivative 23 was an inhibitor of pyruvate kinase; it could regulate glycolysis by inhibiting the activation of the phosphorylation of PKM2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, studies in vivo demonstrated derivative 23 significantly inhibited the growth of xenograft tumor.

CONCLUSION

In this study, alkannin selectivity is reported to be significantly improved following structural modification, and derivative 23 is first shown to be able to inhibit lung cancer growth via the PKM2/STAT3 phosphorylation signaling pathway in vitro, indicating the potential value of derivative 23 in treating lung cancer.

The oxidative aging model integrated various risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus at system level

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic endocrine metabolic disease caused by insulin dysregulation. Studies have shown that aging-related oxidative stress (as "oxidative aging") play a critical role in the onset and progression of T2DM, by leading to an energy metabolism imbalance. However, the precise mechanisms through which oxidative aging lead to T2DM are yet to be fully comprehended. Thus, it is urgent to integrate the underlying mechanisms between oxidative aging and T2DM, where meaningful prediction models based on relative profiles are needed.

Methods

First, machine learning was used to build the aging model and disease model. Next, an integrated oxidative aging model was employed to identify crucial oxidative aging risk factors. Finally, a series of bioinformatic analyses (including network, enrichment, sensitivity, and pan-cancer analyses) were used to explore potential mechanisms underlying oxidative aging and T2DM.

Results

The study revealed a close relationship between oxidative aging and T2DM. Our results indicate that nutritional metabolism, inflammation response, mitochondrial function, and protein homeostasis are key factors involved in the interplay between oxidative aging and T2DM, even indicating key indices across different cancer types. Therefore, various risk factors in T2DM were integrated, and the theories of oxi-inflamm-aging and cellular senescence were also confirmed.

Conclusion

In sum, our study successfully integrated the underlying mechanisms linking oxidative aging and T2DM through a series of computational methodologies.

SIRT1/P53 pathway is involved in the Arsenic induced aerobic glycolysis in hepatocytes L-02 cells

Arsenic is a known human carcinogen. Low doses of arsenic can induce cell proliferation, but the mechanism remains elusive. Aerobic glycolysis, also known as the Warburg effect, is one of the characteristics of tumour cells and rapidly proliferating cells. P53 is a tumour suppressor gene that has been shown to be a negative regulator of aerobic glycolysis. SIRT1 is a deacetylase that inhibits the function of P53. In this study, we found that P53 was involved in low dose of arsenic-induced aerobic glycolysis through regulating HK2 expression in L-02 cells. Moreover, SIRT1 not only inhibited P53 expression but also decreased the acetylation level of P53-K382 in arsenic-treated L-02 cells. Meanwhile, SIRT1 influenced the expression of HK2 and LDHA, which then promoted arsenic-induced glycolysis in L-02 cells. Therefore, our study demonstrated that the SIRT1/P53 pathway is involved in arsenic-induced glycolysis, thereby promoting cell proliferation, which provides theoretical basis for enriching the mechanism of arsenic carcinogenesis.

ACE2 negatively regulates the Warburg effect and suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression via reducing ROS-HIF1α activity

Aerobic glycolysis has pleiotropic roles in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Emerging studies revealed key promoters of aerobic glycolysis, however, little is known about its negative regulators in HCC. In this study, an integrative analysis identifies a repertoire of differentially expressed genes (DNASE1L3, SLC22A1, ACE2, CES3, CCL14, GYS2, ADH4, and CFHR3) that are inversely associated with the glycolytic phenotype in HCC. ACE2, a member of the rennin-angiotensin system, is revealed to be downregulated in HCC and predicts a poor prognosis. ACE2 overexpression significantly inhibits the glycolytic flux as evidenced by reduced glucose uptake, lactate release, extracellular acidification rate, and the expression of glycolytic genes. Opposite results are noticed in loss-of-function studies. Mechanistically, ACE2 metabolizes Ang II to Ang-(1-7), which activates Mas receptor and leads to the phosphorylation of Src homology 2-containing inositol phosphatase 2 (SHP-2). SHP2 activation further blocks reactive oxygen species (ROS)-HIF1α signaling. Addition of Ang-(1-7) or the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine compromises in vivo additive tumor growth and aerobic glycolysis induced by ACE2 knockdown. Moreover, growth advantages afforded by ACE2 knockdown are largely glycolysis-dependent. In clinical settings, a close link between ACE2 expression and HIF1α or the phosphorated level of SHP2 is found. Overexpression of ACE2 significantly retards tumor growth in patient-derived xenograft model. Collectively, our findings suggest that ACE2 is a negative glycolytic regulator, and targeting the ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas receptor/ROS/HIF1α axis may be a promising therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.

LncRNA PVT1 influences breast cancer cells glycolysis through sponging miR-145-5p

BACKGROUND

Long-non-coding RNA PVT1 (lncRNA PVT1) can be used as an oncogenic regulatory non-coding RNA (ncRNA) for many cancers. However, its function and mechanism in breast cancer (BRCA) are still not clearly elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

We attempt to explain the mechanism of PVT1's role in breast cancer from different perspectives.

METHODS

We analyzed the expression of PVT1 and its correlation with the breast cancer related clinical data in the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We used PVT1 overexpression and knockdown lentivirus to infect breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line for cell function verification, in vitro using CCK-8 to measure proliferation, flow cytometry to measure apoptosis, transwell test to measure invasion and migration ability, detecting cell extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) to assess glycolysis metabolism and explore the biological functions of PVT1 in breast cancer cells. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the changes of related genes in cells after overexpression of PVT1. In vivo we used a xenograft model to study the effect of PVT1 on breast cancer.

RESULTS

PVT1 was up-regulated in breast cancer tissues and was positively correlated with the clinical stage of breast cancer patients. Overexpression of PVT1 in vitro promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted tumor growth in vivo. Knockdown of PVT1 led to the opposite biological consequence. Further bioinformatics analysis showed that PVT1 changes the glycolysis metabolism of tumors through regulation of glycolysis-related genes. In addition, the expression of miR-145-5p is negatively correlated with PVT1. We consider the possibility of PVT1 promoting cell proliferation and metastasis by regulating the aerobic glucose metabolism in breast cancer cells through sponging the miR-145-5p.

CONCLUSION

Our results reveal a potential pathway for competing endogenous RNA to regulate breast cancer glucose metabolism. PVT1 regulates glycolysis related genes expression by competitively binding to endogenous miR-145-5p in breast cancer cells to change the metabolic phenotype. This may Provide new ideas for precise molecular therapy targets for breast cancer.

RBX1 regulates PKM alternative splicing to facilitate anaplastic thyroid carcinoma metastasis and aerobic glycolysis by destroying the SMAR1/HDAC6 complex

BACKGROUND

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies, frequently accompanied by metastasis and aerobic glycolysis. Cancer cells adjust their metabolism by modulating the PKM alternative splicing and facilitating PKM2 isoform expression. Therefore, identifying factors and mechanisms that control PKM alternative splicing is significant for overcoming the current challenges in ATC treatment.

RESULTS

In this study, the expression of RBX1 was largely enhanced in the ATC tissues. Our clinical tests suggested that high RBX1 expression was significantly related to poor survival. The functional analysis indicated that RBX1 facilitated the metastasis of ATC cells by enhancing the Warburg effect, and PKM2 played a key role in RBX1-mediated aerobic glycolysis. Furthermore, we confirmed that RBX1 regulates PKM alternative splicing and promotes the PKM2-mediated Warburg effect in ATC cells. Moreover, ATC cell migration and aerobic glycolysis induced by RBX1-mediated PKM alternative splicing are dependent on the destruction of the SMAR1/HDAC6 complex. RBX1, as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, degrades SMAR1 in ATC through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our study identified the mechanism underlying the regulation of PKM alternative splicing in ATC cells for the first time and provides evidence about the effect of RBX1 on cellular adaptation to metabolic stress.

Butyrate prevents the migration and invasion, and aerobic glycolysis in gastric cancer via inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin/c-Myc signaling

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a common cause of cancer death worldwide. Evidence has found that butyrate exhibited antitumor effects on GC cells. However, the mechanism by which butyrate regulate GC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and aerobic glycolysis remains largely unknown. The proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells were tested by EdU staining, transwell assays. Additionally, protein expressions were determined by western blot assay. Next, glucose uptake, lactate production, and cellular ATP levels in GC cells were detected. Furthermore, the antitumor effects of butyrate in tumor-bearing nude mice were evaluated. We found, butyrate significantly prevented GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion (p < .01). Additionally, butyrate markedly inhibited GC cell aerobic glycolysis, as shown by the reduced expressions of GLUT1, HK2, and LDHA (p < .01). Moreover, butyrate notably decreased nuclear β-catenin and c-Myc levels in GC cells (p < .01). Remarkably, through activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling with LiCl, the inhibitory effects of butyrate on the growth and aerobic glycolysis of GC cells were diminished (p < .01). Moreover, butyrate notably suppressed tumor volume and weight in GC cell xenograft nude mice in vivo (p < .01). Meanwhile, butyrate obviously reduced nuclear β-catenin, c-Myc, GLUT1, HK2 and LDHA levels in tumor tissues in GC cell xenograft mice (p < .01). Collectively, butyrate could suppress the growth and aerobic glycolysis of GC cells in vitro and in vivo via downregulating wnt/β-catenin/c-Myc signaling. These findings are likely to prove useful in better understanding the role of butyrate in GC.

A Circular RNA, hsa_circ_0018180 (circPARD3), Triggers Glycolysis and Promotes Malignancy of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Through the miR-5194/ENO1 Axis

Emerging evidence has demonstrated the pivotal roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the modulation of malignancy and pathological progression among multiple human cancers. Glucose metabolism reprogramming is a widely identified characteristic for contributing to facilitate tumorigenesis. Nonetheless, their contributions to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell glycolysis remain to be further elucidated. Herein, we aim to investigate the role of circRNA, hsa_circ_0018180 (also named as circPARD3) in HNSCC. Expression patterns of circPARD3 in HNSCC tissues and different cell lines were determined by qRT-PCR assay, as well as its correlation with the prognosis of survival. CCK-8, EdU incorporation, and transwell assays were carried out to assess the cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, respectively. Glucose uptake and lactate production were evaluated by preforming glycolysis. Mechanistically, the circPARD3/miR-5194/ENO1 axis was verified by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase reporter assays. Western blot analysis was employed to measure the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated biomarkers. Upregulated circPARD3 observed in HNSCC tissues and cell lines indicated the poor prognosis of patients. Stable knockdown of circPARD3 dramatically exerted the suppressive effects on cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as glucose uptake and lactate production. Mechanistically, circPARD3 harbored miR-5194, serving as a miRNA sponge, thereby increasing ENO1 expression. Moreover, ENO1 evidently reversed miR-5194-mediated attenuated malignant behaviors. Collectively, our study identified an oncogenic role of circPARD3 in HNSCC through a novel machinery of circPARD3/miR-5194/ENO1 and provided a promising therapeutic target for HNSCC.

Construction and validation of a glycolysis-related lncRNA signature for prognosis prediction in Stomach Adenocarcinoma

Background: Glycolysis is closely related to the occurrence and progression of gastric cancer (GC). Currently, there is no systematic study on using the glycolysis-related long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) as a model for predicting the survival time in patients with GC. Therefore, it was essential to develop a signature for predicting the survival based on glycolysis-related lncRNA in patients with GC. Materials and methods: LncRNA expression profiles, containing 375 stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) samples, were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The co-expression network of lncRNA and glycolysis-related genes was used to identify the glycolysis-related lncRNAs. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis were used to detect the glycolysis-related lncRNA with prognostic significance. Then, Bayesian Lasso-logistic and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to screen the glycolysis-related lncRNA with independent prognostic significance and to develop the risk model. Patients were assigned into the low- and high-risk cohorts according to their risk scores. A nomogram model was constructed based on clinical information and risk scores. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed to visualize the functional and pathway enrichment analyses of the glycolysis-related lncRNA. Finally, the robustness of the results obtained was verified in an internal validation data set. Results: Seven glycolysis-related lncRNAs (AL353804.1, AC010719.1, TNFRSF10A-AS1, AC005586.1, AL355574.1, AC009948.1, and AL161785.1) were obtained to construct a risk model for prognosis prediction in the STAD patients using Lasso regression and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The risk score was identified as an independent prognostic factor for the patients with STAD [HR = 1.315, 95% CI (1.056-1.130), p < 0.001] via multivariate Cox regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn and the area under curve (AUC) values of 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) were calculated to be 0.691, 0.717, and 0.723 respectively. Similar results were obtained in the validation data set. In addition, seven glycolysis-related lncRNAs were significantly enriched in the classical tumor processes and pathways including cell adhesion, positive regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor, leukocyte transendothelial migration, and JAK_STAT signaling pathway. Conclusion: The prognostic prediction model constructed using seven glycolysis-related lncRNA could be used to predict the prognosis in patients with STAD, which might help clinicians in the clinical treatment for STAD.

Metabolic management of microenvironment acidity in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM), similar to most cancers, is dependent on fermentation metabolism for the synthesis of biomass and energy (ATP) regardless of the cellular or genetic heterogeneity seen within the tumor. The transition from respiration to fermentation arises from the documented defects in the number, the structure, and the function of mitochondria and mitochondrial-associated membranes in GBM tissue. Glucose and glutamine are the major fermentable fuels that drive GBM growth. The major waste products of GBM cell fermentation (lactic acid, glutamic acid, and succinic acid) will acidify the microenvironment and are largely responsible for drug resistance, enhanced invasion, immunosuppression, and metastasis. Besides surgical debulking, therapies used for GBM management (radiation, chemotherapy, and steroids) enhance microenvironment acidification and, although often providing a time-limited disease control, will thus favor tumor recurrence and complications. The simultaneous restriction of glucose and glutamine, while elevating non-fermentable, anti-inflammatory ketone bodies, can help restore the pH balance of the microenvironment while, at the same time, providing a non-toxic therapeutic strategy for killing most of the neoplastic cells.

Ginsenoside Rh4 Suppresses Metastasis of Esophageal Cancer and Expression of c-Myc via Targeting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

The metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a leading cause of death worldwide, however, it has a poor prognosis. Ginsenoside Rh4 is a rare saponin that has been shown to have potential antitumor effectiveness in ESCC. However, the utility of Rh4 in ESCC metastasis and its undiscovered mode of action has not yet been explored. In this study, we found that Rh4 could inhibit ESCC metastasis by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the level of c-Myc, which is an important transcription factor in cancer. In in vitro experiments, Rh4 could inhibit the migration and invasion of ESCC cells without affecting cell viability. In in vivo experiments, Rh4 restrained ESCC metastasis to the lymph nodes and lungs via the suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The Wnt agonist HLY78 promoted EMT and migration of ESCC cells, whereas treatment of Rh4 can attenuate the promotion effect of HLY78. The siRNA knocking out c-Myc can also significantly reduce the expression of EMT-related marker proteins. This study illustrates a new concept for further research on the mechanism of Rh4 in ESCC.

Trichodermin inhibits the growth of oral cancer through apoptosis-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and HDAC-2-mediated signaling

Trichodermin (TCD), a trichothecene first isolated from marine Trichoderma viride, is an inhibitor of eukaryotic protein synthesis. However, the potential effects of TCD on human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, the exposure of OSCC cells (Ca922 and HSC-3 cells) to TCD suppressed cell proliferation assessed using MTT assays and colony formation assays. TCD inhibited the migration and invasion of OSCC cells (Ca922 and HSC-3 cells) through the downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9. After treatment of OSCC cells with TCD, the G2/M phase was arrested, caspase-related apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3 and PARP expression) was induced, and the protein level of x-linked inhibitor of apoptosis was reduced. Meanwhile, the TCD-induced cell death was reversed by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. Furthermore, TCD diminished mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolytic function in OSCC cells. In addition, TCD decreased the levels of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC-2) and downstream signaling proteins, including phosphorylated STAT3 and NF-κB. Finally, TCD significantly suppressed tumor growth in a zebrafish OSCC xenotransplantation model. Overall, this evidence demonstrates that TCD is a novel promising strategy for the treatment of OSCCs.

Exploring the Interplay between Metabolism and Tumor Microenvironment Based on Four Major Metabolism Pathways in Colon Adenocarcinoma

Tumor metabolism plays a critical role in tumor progression. However, the interaction between metabolism and tumor microenvironment (TME) has not been comprehensively revealed in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). We used unsupervised consensus clustering to establish three molecular subtypes (clusters) based on the enrichment score of four major metabolism pathways in TCGA-COAD dataset. GSE17536 was used as a validation dataset. Single-cell RNA sequencing data (GSE161277) was employed to further verify the reliability of subtyping and characterize the correlation between metabolism and TME. Three clusters were identified and they performed distinct prognosis and molecular features. Clust3 had the worst overall survival and the highest enrichment score of glycolysis. 86 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, in which 11 DEGs were associated with favorable prognosis and 75 DEGs were associated with poor prognosis. Striking correlations were observed between hypoxia and glycolysis, clust3 and hypoxia, and clust3 and angiogenesis (P < 0.001).We constructed a molecular subtyping system which was effective and reliable for predicting COAD prognosis. The 86 identified key DEGs may be greatly involved in COAD progression, and they provide new perspectives and directions for further understanding the mechanism of metabolism in promoting aggressive phenotype by interacting with TME.

Mitochondria-Targeted Mesoporous Titanium Dioxide Nanoplatform for Synergistic Nitric Oxide Gas-Sonodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer

Background

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has rapidly advanced as a promising alternative to conventional photodynamic therapy owing to its preferable therapeutic depth. However, single-modal SDT exhibits limited efficacy due to the long-term hypoxia in tumors.

Method and Results

To address these issues, we proposed a synergistic SDT strategy that integrates mitochondrial targeting with nitric oxide (NO) gas therapy by using multifunctional nanoplatforms. The nanoplatform, which was named as T-mTNPs@L-Arg, was composed of mesoporous titanium dioxide loaded with the NO donor precursor L-arginine (L-Arg) and modified with triphenyl phosphonium (TPP), a mitochondria-targeting ligand. Therefore, T-mTNPs@L-Arg could efficiently concentrate into mitochondria and release NO gas as well as generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) with ultrasound stimulus. Importantly, the released NO gas exerted multiple synergies with SDT, including inducing NO poisoning, generating more lethal reactive nitrogen species (RNS) by reaction with ROS, and alleviating hypoxia through NO-mediated mitochondrial respiration inhibition. On account of the synergistic effects, T-mTNPs@L-Arg showed an outstanding SDT efficacy and a reduced side effect.

Conclusion

This work designed a nanoplatform to integrate mitochondria targeting, SDT and NO gas therapy, providing a new strategy for highly efficient breast cancer therapy.

A functional screen with metformin identifies microRNAs that regulate metabolism in colorectal cancer cells

Metformin inhibits oxidative phosphorylation and can be used to dissect metabolic pathways in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. CRC cell proliferation is inhibited by metformin in a dose dependent manner. MicroRNAs that regulate metabolism could be identified by their ability to alter the effect of metformin on CRC cell proliferation. An unbiased high throughput functional screen of a synthetic micoRNA (miRNA) library was used to identify miRNAs that impact the metformin response in CRC cells. Experimental validation of selected hits identified miRNAs that sensitize CRC cells to metformin through modulation of proliferation, apoptosis, cell-cycle and direct metabolic disruption. Among eight metformin sensitizing miRNAs identified by functional screening, miR-676-3p had both pro-apoptotic and cell cycle arrest activity in combination with metformin, whereas other miRNAs (miR-18b-5p, miR-145-3p miR-376b-5p, and miR-718) resulted primarily in cell cycle arrest when combined with metformin. Investigation of the combined effect of miRNAs and metformin on CRC cell metabolism showed that miR-18b-5p, miR-145-3p, miR-376b-5p, miR-676-3p and miR-718 affected glycolysis only, while miR-1181 only regulated CRC respiration. MicroRNAs can sensitize CRC cells to the anti-proliferative effects of metformin. Identifying relevant miRNA targets may enable the design of innovative therapeutic strategies.

Metabolic Reprogramming in Gastric Cancer: Trojan Horse Effect

Worldwide, gastric cancer (GC) represents the fifth most common cancer for incidence and the third leading cause of death in developed countries. Despite the development of combination chemotherapies, the survival rates of GC patients remain unsatisfactory. The reprogramming of energy metabolism is a hallmark of cancer, especially increased dependence on aerobic glycolysis. In the present review, we summarized current evidence on how metabolic reprogramming in GC targets the tumor microenvironment, modulates metabolic networks and overcomes drug resistance. Preclinical and clinical studies on the combination of metabolic reprogramming targeted agents and conventional chemotherapeutics or molecularly targeted treatments [including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and HER2] and the value of biomarkers are examined. This deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying successful pharmacological combinations is crucial in finding the best-personalized treatment regimens for cancer patients.

Establishment of A Nomogram for Predicting the Prognosis of Soft Tissue Sarcoma Based on Seven Glycolysis-Related Gene Risk Score

Background: Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a group of tumors with a low incidence and a complex type. Therefore, it is an arduous task to accurately diagnose and treat them. Glycolysis-related genes are closely related to tumor progression and metastasis. Hence, our study is dedicated to the development of risk characteristics and nomograms based on glycolysis-related genes to assess the survival possibility of patients with STS.

Methods: All data sets used in our research include gene expression data and clinical medical characteristics in the Genomic Data Commons Data Portal (National Cancer Institute) Soft Tissue Sarcoma (TCGA SARC) and GEO database, gene sequence data of corresponding non-diseased human tissues in the Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx).Next, transcriptome data in TCGA SARC was analyzed as the training set to construct a glycolysis-related gene risk signature and nomogram, which were confirmed in external test set.

Results: We identified and verified the 7 glycolysis-related gene signature that is highly correlated with the overall survival (OS) of STS patients, which performed excellently in the evaluation of the size of AUC, and calibration curve. As well as, the results of the analysis of univariate and multivariate Cox regression demonstrated that this 7 glycolysis-related gene characteristic acts independently as an influence predictor for STS patients. Therefore, a prognostic-related nomogram combing 7 gene signature with clinical influencing features was constructed to predict OS of patients with STS in the training set that demonstrated strong predictive values for survival.

Conclusion: These results demonstrate that both glycolysis-related gene risk signature and nomogram were efficient prognostic indicators for patients with STS. These findings may contribute to make individualize clinical decisions on prognosis and treatment.

Licochalcone A activation of glycolysis pathway has an anti-aging effect on human adipose stem cells

Licochalcone A (LA) is a chalcone flavonoid of Glycyrrhiza inflata, which has anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. However, no anti-aging benefits of LA have been demonstrated in vitro or in vivo. In this study, we explored whether LA has an anti-aging effect in adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). We performed β-galactosidase staining and measured reactive oxygen species, relative telomere lengths, and P16^ink4a mRNA expression. Osteogenesis was assessed by Alizarin Red staining and adipogenesis by was assessed Oil Red O staining. Protein levels of related markers runt-related transcription factor 2 and lipoprotein lipase were also examined. RNA sequencing and measurement of glycolysis activities showed that LA significantly activated glycolysis in ADSCs. Together, our data strongly suggest that the LA have an anti-aging effect through activate the glycolysis pathway.

Dual Hyaluronic Acid and Folic Acid Targeting pH-Sensitive Multifunctional 2DG@DCA@MgO-Nano-Core-Shell-Radiosensitizer for Breast Cancer Therapy

Simple Summary

In this study, we have developed CD44 and folate receptor-targeting multi-functional dual drug-loaded nanoparticles. This comprises hyaluronic acid (HA) and folic acid (FA) conjugated to 2-deoxy glucose (2DG) and a shell linked to a dichloroacetate (DCA) and magnesium oxide (MgO) core (2DG@DCA@MgO; DDM) to enhance the localized chemo-radiotherapy for effective breast cancer (BC) treatment. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles including stability, selectivity, responsive release to pH, cellular uptake, and anticancer efficacy were comprehensively examined. Mechanistically, we identified multiple component signal pathways as important regulators of BC metabolism and mediators for the inhibitory effects exerted by DDM. Nanoparticles exhibited sustained DDM release properties in bio-relevant media, which was responsive to acidic pH providing edibility to the control of drug release from nanoparticles. DDM-loaded and HA–FA-functionalized nanoparticles exhibited increased selectivity and uptake by BC cells. Cell-based assays indicated that the functionalized DDM significantly suppressed cancer cell growth and boosted radiotherapy (RT) efficacy via inducing cell cycle arrest, enhancing apoptosis, and modulating glycolytic and OXPHOS pathways. Accordingly, the inhibition of glycolysis/OXPHOS by DDM and RT treatment may result in cancer metabolic reprogramming via a novel PI3K/AKT/mTOR/P53NF-κB/VEGF pathway in BC cells. Therefore, the dual targeting of glycolysis/OXPHOS pathways is suggested as a promising antitumor strategy.

Abstract

Globally, breast cancer (BC) poses a serious public health risk. The disease exhibits a complex heterogeneous etiology and is associated with a glycolytic and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) metabolic reprogramming phenotype, which fuels proliferation and progression. Due to the late manifestation of symptoms, rigorous treatment regimens are required following diagnosis. Existing treatments are limited by a lack of specificity, systemic toxicity, temporary remission, and radio-resistance in BC. In this study, we have developed CD44 and folate receptor-targeting multi-functional dual drug-loaded nanoparticles. This composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) and folic acid (FA) conjugated to a 2-deoxy glucose (2DG) shell linked to a layer of dichloroacetate (DCA) and a magnesium oxide (MgO) core (2DG@DCA@MgO; DDM) to enhance the localized chemo-radiotherapy for effective BC treatment. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles including stability, selectivity, responsive release to pH, cellular uptake, and anticancer efficacy were thoroughly examined. Mechanistically, we identified multiple component signaling pathways as important regulators of BC metabolism and mediators for the inhibitory effects elicited by DDM. Nanoparticles exhibited sustained DDM release properties in a bio-relevant media, which was responsive to the acidic pH enabling eligibility to the control of drug release from nanoparticles. DDM-loaded and HA–FA-functionalized nanoparticles exhibited increased selectivity and uptake by BC cells. Cell-based assays revealed that the functionalized DDM significantly suppressed cancer cell growth and improved radiotherapy (RT) through inducing cell cycle arrest, enhancing apoptosis, and modulating glycolytic and OXPHOS pathways. By highlighting DDM mechanisms as an antitumor and radio-sensitizing reagent, our data suggest that glycolytic and OXPHOS pathway modulation occurs via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/NF-κB/VEGF_low and P53_high signaling pathway. In conclusion, the multi-functionalized DDM opposed tumor-associated metabolic reprogramming via multiple signaling pathways in BC cells as a promising targeted metabolic approach.

Electrospun Fibers Improving Cellular Respiration via Mitochondrial Protection

Cellular respiration is the prerequisite for cell survival and functions, and mitochondrial function and microcirculation oxygen supply are essential for cellular respiration. However, in diabetic fracture, cellular respiration of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) is disrupted because of the dysfunction of mitochondria and microcirculation disorders. Here, the electrospun fibers of GelMA loaded with Hif-1 pathway activator (DFO) are constructed to improve the cellular respiration of BMSCs via protecting mitochondrial function and reconstructing microcirculation. The sequential process of electrospinning and UV crosslinking endowed the electrospun fibers with breathability and the biomechanical properties like the periosteum. In vitro biomolecular experiments showed that by crosslinking grafted polyethylene glycol acrylate liposomes loaded with DFO, the functional electrospun fibers can release DFO locally to activate Hif-1 in BMSCs, which can regulate the balance of Bcl-2/Bax to protect mitochondria and upregulate the expression of VEGF to reconstruct microcirculation. Animal experiments confirmed that the functional electrospun fibers can promote the recovery of diabetic fracture in vivo. These suggested that the functional electrospun fibers can improve cellular respiration for cell survival and functions of BMSCs. This study provides a new treatment strategy for diabetic fracture and other tissue regeneration on basis of cellular respiration improvement.

3-Bromopyruvate-induced glycolysis inhibition impacts larval growth and development and carbohydrate homeostasis in fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea Drury

As a typical glycolytic inhibitor, 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) has been extensively studied in cancer therapy in recent decades. However, few studies focused on 3-BrPA in regulating the growth and development of insects, and the relationship and regulatory mechanism between glycolysis and chitin biosynthesis remain largely unknown. The Hyphantria cunea, named fall webworm, is a notorious defoliator, which caused a huge economic loss to agriculture and forestry. Here, we investigated the effects of 3-BrPA on the growth and development, glycolysis, carbohydrate homeostasis, as well as chitin synthesis in H. cunea larvae. To elucidate the action mechanism of 3-BrPA on H. cunea will provide a new insight for the control of this pest. The results showed that 3-BrPA dramatically restrained the growth and development of H. cunea larvae and resulted in larval lethality. Meanwhile, we confirmed that 3-BrPA caused a significant decrease in carbohydrate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), pyruvic acid (PA), and triglyceride (TG) levels by inhibiting glycolysis in H. cunea larvae. Further studies indicated that 3-BrPA significantly affected the activities of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and trehalase, as well as expressions of the genes related to glycolysis, resulting in carbohydrate homeostasis disorder. Moreover, it was found that 3-BrPA enhanced 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling by upregulating HcCYP306A1 and HcCYP314A1, two critical genes in 20E synthesis pathway, and accelerated chitin synthesis by upregulating transcriptional levels of genes in the chitin synthesis pathway in H. cunea larvae. Taken together, our findings provide a novel insight into the mechanism of glycolytic inhibitor in regulating the growth and development of insects, and lay a foundation for the potential application of glycolytic inhibitors in pest control as well.

Altered Metabolic Phenotype of Immune Cells in a Spontaneous Autoimmune Uveitis Model

As one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, uveitis is an important disease. The exact pathogenesis of autoimmune uveitis is not entirely elucidated to date. Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) represents the only spontaneous animal model for autoimmune uveitis in humans. As the metabolism of immune cells is an emerging field in research and gains more and more significance to take part in the pathogenesis of various diseases, we conducted experiments to investigate the metabolism of immune cells of ERU cases and healthy controls. To our knowledge, the link between a deviant immunometabolism and the pathogenesis of autoimmune uveitis was not investigated so far. We showed that PBMC of ERU cases had a more active metabolic phenotype in basal state by upregulating both the oxidative phosphorylation and the glycolytic pathway. We further revealed an increased compensatory glycolytic rate of PBMC and CD4⁺ T cells of ERU cases under mitochondrial stress conditions. These findings are in line with metabolic alterations of immune cells in other autoimmune diseases and basic research, where it was shown that activated immune cells have an increased need of energy and molecule demand for their effector function. We demonstrated a clear difference in the metabolic phenotypes of PBMC and, more specifically, CD4⁺ T cells of ERU cases and controls. These findings are another important step in understanding the pathogenesis of ERU and figuratively, human autoimmune uveitis.

A Prognostic Model for Brain Glioma Patients Based on 9 Signature Glycolytic Genes

Objective

To screen glycolytic genes linked to the glioma prognosis and construct the prognostic model.

Methods

The relevant data of glioma were downloaded from TCGA and GTEx databases. GSEA of glycolysis-related pathways was carried out, and enriched differential genes were extracted. Screening out prognostic-related genes with conspicuous significance and construction of the prognostic model were conducted by multivariate Cox regression analysis and Lasso regression analysis. The model was evaluated, and cBioPortal was used to analyze the mutation of the model gene. The expression of the model gene in tumor and normal colon tissue was analyzed. The model was used to evaluate the prognosis of patients in different groups to verify the applicability of the model.

Results

339 differentially glycolytic-related genes were enriched in REACTOME_GLYCOLYSIS, GLYCOLYTIC_PROCESS, HALLMARK_GLYCOLYSIS, and other pathways. We obtained 9 key prognostic genes and constructed the prognostic evaluation model. The 3-year AUC values of the ROC curve display model are greater than 0.75, which indicates that the accuracy of the model is good. The relation of age and risk score to prognosis is shown by univariate and multivariate Cox analysis. The expression of SRD5A3, MDH2, and B3GAT3 genes was significantly upregulated in the tumor tissues, while the HDAC4 and G6PC2 genes were downregulated. The mutation rate of MDH2 and HDAC4 genes was the highest. This model could effectively distinguish the risk of poor prognosis of patients in any age stage.

Conclusion

The prognostic assessment models based on glycolysis-related nine-gene signature could accurately predict the prognosis of patients with GBM.

Signaling pathways in cancer-associated fibroblasts and targeted therapy for cancer

To flourish, cancers greatly depend on their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in TME are critical for cancer occurrence and progression because of their versatile roles in extracellular matrix remodeling, maintenance of stemness, blood vessel formation, modulation of tumor metabolism, immune response, and promotion of cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and therapeutic resistance. CAFs are highly heterogeneous stromal cells and their crosstalk with cancer cells is mediated by a complex and intricate signaling network consisting of transforming growth factor-beta, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Wnt, Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription, epidermal growth factor receptor, Hippo, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, etc., signaling pathways. These signals in CAFs exhibit their own special characteristics during the cancer progression and have the potential to be targeted for anticancer therapy. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of these signaling cascades in interactions between cancer cells and CAFs is necessary to fully realize the pivotal roles of CAFs in cancers. Herein, in this review, we will summarize the enormous amounts of findings on the signals mediating crosstalk of CAFs with cancer cells and its related targets or trials. Further, we hypothesize three potential targeting strategies, including, namely, epithelial-mesenchymal common targets, sequential target perturbation, and crosstalk-directed signaling targets, paving the way for CAF-directed or host cell-directed antitumor therapy.

miR-183-5p Promotes HCC Migration/Invasion via Increasing Aerobic Glycolysis

Background

The mortality and morbidity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unacceptably high, despite decades of extensive studies. Aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of cancer metabolism, closely relating to invasion and metastasis of HCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of aerobic glycolysis. miR-183-5p, an oncogenic miRNA, is highly expressed in HCC, but the regulatory mechanism of miR-183-5p in migration, invasion and aerobic glycolysis in HCC remains unclear.

Purpose

To elucidate whether miR-183-5p affects aerobic glycolysis to regulate the migration and invasion of HCC, and to explore its regulatory mechanism.

Methods

We attempted to observe the effects of miR-183-5p on the migration and invasion of HepG2 cells by a wound-healing assay and Transwell assays. The effect of miR-183-5p on glycolysis was determined by glucose uptake and lactate generation. Western blot and qPCR were used to detect the relevant proteins and miRNA expression.

Results

Our results show that miR-183-5p promoted migration and invasion, enhanced glycolysis via increasing glucose uptake and lactate generation, and up-regulated glycolysis-related gene (PKM2, HK2, LDHA, GLUT1) expression in HepG2 cells. Further experiments indicated that miR-183-5p could decrease PTEN expression, but increased Akt, p-Akt and mTOR expression in HepG2 cells.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that miR-183-5p may promote HCC migration and invasion via increasing aerobic glycolysis through targeting PTEN and then activating Akt/mTOR signaling.

Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1: a novel prognostic biomarker that predicts favourable patient survival in cancer

Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1) is a key metabolic protein that regulates the transport of pyruvate into the mitochondrial inner membrane. MPC1 deficiency may cause metabolic reprogramming. However, whether and how MPC1 controls mitochondrial oxidative capacity in cancer are still relatively unknown. MPC1 deficiency was recently found to be strongly associated with various diseases and cancer hallmarks. We utilized online databases and uncovered that MPC1 expression is lower in many cancer tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. In addition, MPC1 expression was found to be substantially altered in five cancer types: breast-invasive carcinoma (BRCA), kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), and prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD). However, in KIRC, LUAD, PAAD, and PRAD, high MPC1 expression is closely associated with favourable prognosis. Low MPC1 expression in BRCA is significantly associated with shorter overall survival time. MPC1 expression shows strong positive and negative correlations with immune cell infiltration in thymoma (THYM) and thyroid carcinoma (THCA). Furthermore, we have comprehensively summarized the current literature regarding the metabolic reprogramming effects of MPC1 in various cancers. As shown in the literature, MPC1 expression is significantly decreased in cancer tissue and associated with poor prognosis. We discuss the potential metabolism-altering effects of MPC1 in cancer, including decreased pyruvate transport ability; impaired pyruvate-driven oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS); and increased lactate production, glucose consumption, and glycolytic capacity, and the underlying mechanisms. These activities facilitate tumour progression, migration, and invasion. MPC1 is a novel cancer biomarker and potentially powerful therapeutic target for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Further studies aimed at slowing cancer progression are in progress.

circ-PRKCI targets miR-1294 and miR-186-5p by downregulating FOXK1 expression to suppress glycolysis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Numerous human circular RNAs (circRNAs/circ) have been functionally characterized. However, the potential role of circ-protein kinase C iota (PRKCI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. The effects of each transfection and expression levels of circ-PRKCI, microRNA (miR)-1294, miR-186-5p and forkhead box K1 (FOXK1) in HCC cells were analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis. The interactions between circ-PRKCI and miR-1294 or miR-186-5p, and miR-1294 or miR-186-5p and FOXK1 were validated using dual luciferase reporter assays. The viability, invasion and migration of HCC cells were determined using Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. The expression levels of FOXK1, hexokinase-2 (HK2), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) in HCC cells were analyzed using western blotting. The levels of glucose and lactic acid in the cultured supernatant were detected using commercially available kits. The results of the present study revealed that miR-1294 and miR-186-5p expression levels were downregulated in the HCC cell line, HCCLM3, and were subsequently downregulated by circ-PRKCI overexpression and upregulated by the knockdown of circ-PRKCI. circ-PRKCI overexpression promoted the viability, invasion and migration of HCCLM3 cells, which was also reversed by the overexpression of miR-1294 and miR-186-5p. In addition, the overexpression of circ-PRKCI upregulated FOXK1 expression levels, while the overexpression of miR-1294 and miR-186-5p downregulated FOXK1 expression levels. Conversely, the knockdown of circ-PRKCI expression downregulated FOXK1 expression levels, while the knockdown of miR-1294 and miR-186-5p upregulated FOXK1 expression levels. Furthermore, circ-PRKCI was identified to target miR-1294 and miR-186-5p, and miR-1294 and miR-186-5p were subsequently found to target FOXK1. The overexpression of circ-PRKCI also increased glucose and lactic acid levels, while the knockdown of FOXK1 decreased glucose and lactic acid levels. The knockdown of circ-PRKCI decreased glucose and lactic acid levels, which were reversed by FOXK1 overexpression. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that circ-PRKCI may promote the viability, invasion and migration of HCC cells by sponging miR-1294 and miR-186-5p to upregulate FOXK1 expression levels.

A Glycolysis-Based Long Non-coding RNA Signature Accurately Predicts Prognosis in Renal Carcinoma Patients

Background

The prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) varies greatly among different risk groups, and the traditional indicators have limited effect in the identification of risk grade in patients with RCC. The purpose of our study is to explore a glycolysis-based long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) signature and verify its potential clinical significance in prognostic prediction of RCC patients.

Methods

In this study, RNA data and clinical information were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Univariate and multivariate cox regression displayed six significantly related lncRNAs (AC124854.1, AC078778.1, EMX2OS, DLGAP1-AS2, AC084876.1, and AC026401.3) which were utilized in construction of risk score by a formula. The accuracy of risk score was verified by a series of statistical methods such as receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, nomogram and Kaplan-Meier curves. Its potential clinical significance was excavated by gene enrichment analysis.

Results

Kaplan-Meier curves and ROC curves showed reliability of the risk score to predict the prognosis of RCC patients. Stratification analysis indicated that the risk score was independent predictor compare to other traditional clinical parameters. The clinical nomogram showed highly rigorous with index of 0.73 and precisely predicted 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival time of RCC patients. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) depicted the top ten correlated pathways in both high-risk group and low-risk group. There are 6 lncRNAs and 25 related mRNAs including 36 lncRNA-mRNA links in lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network.

Conclusion

This research demonstrated that glycolysis-based lncRNAs possessed an important value in survival prediction of RCC patients, which would be a potential target for future treatment.

Dexamethasone Conjugates: Synthetic Approaches and Medical Prospects

Dexamethasone (DEX) is the most commonly prescribed glucocorticoid (GC) and has a wide spectrum of pharmacological activity. However, steroid drugs like DEX can have severe side effects on non-target organs. One strategy to reduce these side effects is to develop targeted systems with the controlled release by conjugation to polymeric carriers. This review describes the methods available for the synthesis of DEX conjugates (carbodiimide chemistry, solid-phase synthesis, reversible addition fragmentation-chain transfer [RAFT] polymerization, click reactions, and 2-iminothiolane chemistry) and perspectives for their medical application as GC drug or gene delivery systems for anti-tumor therapy. Additionally, the review focuses on the development of DEX conjugates with different physical-chemical properties as successful delivery systems in the target organs such as eye, joint, kidney, and others. Finally, polymer conjugates with improved transfection activity in which DEX is used as a vector for gene delivery in the cell nucleus have been described.

Metabolic Reprogramming, Questioning, and Implications for Cancer

The expression "metabolic reprogramming" has been encountered more and more in the literature since the mid-1990s. It seems to encompass several notions depending on the author, but the lack of a clear definition allows it to be used as a "catch-all" expression. Our first intention is to point out the inconsistencies in the use of the reprogramming terminology for cancer metabolism. The second is to address the over-focus of the role of mutations in metabolic adaptation. With the increased interest in metabolism and, more specifically, in the Warburg effect in cancer research, it seems appropriate to discuss this terminology and related concepts in detail.