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VanSant-Webb C, Low HK, Kuramoto J, Stanley CE, Qiang H, Su AY, Ross AN, Cooper CG, Cox JE, Summers SA, Evason KJ, Ducker GS. Phospholipid isotope tracing suggests β-catenin-driven suppression of phosphatidylcholine metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2024; 1869:159514. [PMID: 38795827 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2024.159514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Activating mutations in the CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin are among the most frequently observed oncogenic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Profound alterations in lipid metabolism, including increases in fatty acid oxidation and transformation of the phospholipidome, occur in HCC with CTNNB1 mutations, but it is unclear what mechanisms give rise to these changes. We employed untargeted lipidomics and targeted isotope tracing to measure phospholipid synthesis activity in an inducible human liver cell line expressing mutant β-catenin, as well as in transgenic zebrafish with activated β-catenin-driven HCC. In both models, activated β-catenin expression was associated with large changes in the lipidome including conserved increases in acylcarnitines and ceramides and decreases in triglycerides. Lipid isotope tracing analysis in human cells revealed a reduction in phosphatidylcholine (PC) production rates as assayed by choline incorporation. We developed lipid isotope tracing analysis for zebrafish tumors and observed reductions in phosphatidylcholine synthesis by both the CDP-choline and PEMT pathways. The observed changes in the β-catenin-driven HCC phospholipidome suggest that zebrafish can recapitulate conserved features of HCC lipid metabolism and may serve as a model for identifying future HCC-specific lipid metabolic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad VanSant-Webb
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Hayden K Low
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Junko Kuramoto
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Claire E Stanley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Hantao Qiang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Audrey Y Su
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Alexis N Ross
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Chad G Cooper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - James E Cox
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Scott A Summers
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah College of Health, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Kimberley J Evason
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - Gregory S Ducker
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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Shi Q, Xue C, Zeng Y, Yuan X, Chu Q, Jiang S, Wang J, Zhang Y, Zhu D, Li L. Notch signaling pathway in cancer: from mechanistic insights to targeted therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:128. [PMID: 38797752 PMCID: PMC11128457 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01828-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling, renowned for its role in regulating cell fate, organ development, and tissue homeostasis across metazoans, is highly conserved throughout evolution. The Notch receptor and its ligands are transmembrane proteins containing epidermal growth factor-like repeat sequences, typically necessitating receptor-ligand interaction to initiate classical Notch signaling transduction. Accumulating evidence indicates that the Notch signaling pathway serves as both an oncogenic factor and a tumor suppressor in various cancer types. Dysregulation of this pathway promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis in malignancies, closely linked to cancer proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Furthermore, the Notch signaling pathway contributes to maintaining stem-like properties in cancer cells, thereby enhancing cancer invasiveness. The regulatory role of the Notch signaling pathway in cancer metabolic reprogramming and the tumor microenvironment suggests its pivotal involvement in balancing oncogenic and tumor suppressive effects. Moreover, the Notch signaling pathway is implicated in conferring chemoresistance to tumor cells. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of these biological processes is crucial for developing innovative therapeutic strategies targeting Notch signaling. This review focuses on the research progress of the Notch signaling pathway in cancers, providing in-depth insights into the potential mechanisms of Notch signaling regulation in the occurrence and progression of cancer. Additionally, the review summarizes pharmaceutical clinical trials targeting Notch signaling for cancer therapy, aiming to offer new insights into therapeutic strategies for human malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingmiao Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Chen Xue
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yifan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Xin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Qingfei Chu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Shuwen Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jinzhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yaqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Danhua Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
| | - Lanjuan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
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Wang Y, Cheng C, Lu Y, Lian Z, Liu Q, Xu Y, Li Y, Li H, Zhang L, Jiang X, Li B, Yu D. β-Catenin Activation Reprograms Ammonia Metabolism to Promote Senescence Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1643-1658. [PMID: 38417136 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-0673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical tumor that undergoes metabolic reprogramming, differing from normal liver tissue in glucose, lipid, nucleic acid, and amino acid metabolism. Although ammonia is a toxic metabolic by-product, it has also been recently recognized as a signaling molecule to activate lipid metabolism, and it can be a nitrogen source for biosynthesis to support tumorigenesis. In this study, we revealed that β-catenin activation increases ammonia production in HCC mainly by stimulating glutaminolysis. β-Catenin/LEF1 activated the transcription of the glutamate dehydrogenase GLUD1, which then promoted ammonia utilization to enhance the production of glutamate, aspartate, and proline as evidenced by 15NH4Cl metabolic flux. β-Catenin/TCF4 induced the transcription of SLC4A11, an ammonia transporter, to excrete excess ammonia. SLC4A11 was upregulated in HCC tumor tissues, and high SLC4A11 expression was associated with poor prognosis and advanced disease stages. Loss of SLC4A11 induced HCC cell senescence in vitro by blocking ammonia excretion and reduced β-catenin-driven tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, elevated levels of plasma ammonia promoted the progression of β-catenin mutant HCC, which was impeded by SLC4A11 deficiency. Downregulation of SLC4A11 led to ammonia accumulation in tumor interstitial fluid and decreased plasma ammonia levels in HCC with activated β-catenin. Altogether, this study indicates that β-catenin activation reprograms ammonia metabolism and that blocking ammonia excretion by targeting SLC4A11 could be a promising approach to induce senescence in β-catenin mutant HCC. SIGNIFICANCE Ammonia metabolism reprogramming mediated by aberrant activation of β-catenin induces resistance to senescence in HCC and can be targeted by inhibiting SLC4A11 as a potential therapy for β-catenin mutant liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunxiao Cheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanjun Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhaowu Lian
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Qi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanchao Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yunzheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Laizhu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Binghua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Decai Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Nanjing, China
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Xie T, Qin C, Savas AC, Yeh WW, Feng P. The emerging roles of glutamine amidotransferases in metabolism and immune defense. NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38743960 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2024.2351135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Glutamine amidotransferases (GATs) catalyze the synthesis of nucleotides, amino acids, glycoproteins and an enzyme cofactor, thus serving as key metabolic enzymes for cell proliferation. Carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase, Aspartate transcarbamoylase, and Dihydroorotase (CAD) is a multifunctional enzyme of the GAT family and catalyzes the first three steps of the de novo pyrimidine synthesis. Following our findings that cellular GATs are involved in immune evasion during herpesvirus infection, we discovered that CAD reprograms cellular metabolism to fuel aerobic glycolysis and nucleotide synthesis via deamidating RelA. Deamidated RelA activates the expression of key glycolytic enzymes, rather than that of the inflammatory NF-κB-responsive genes. As such, cancer cells prime RelA for deamidation via up-regulating CAD activity or accumulating RelA mutations. Interestingly, the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 also activates CAD to couple evasion of inflammatory response to activated nucleotide synthesis. A small molecule inhibitor of CAD depletes nucleotide supply and boosts antiviral inflammatory response, thus greatly reducing SARS-CoV-2 replication. Additionally, we also found that CTP synthase 1 (CTPS1) deamidates interferon (IFN) regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) to mute IFN induction. Our previous studies have implicated phosphoribosyl formylglycinamidine synthase (PFAS) and phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate amidotransferase (PPAT) in deamidating retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and evading dsRNA-induced innate immune defense in herpesvirus infection. Overall, these studies have uncovered an unconventional enzymatic activity of cellular GATs in metabolism and immune defense, offering a molecular link intimately coupling these fundamental biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taolin Xie
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Chao Qin
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ali Can Savas
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Wayne Wei Yeh
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Pinghui Feng
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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5
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Ziki RA, Colnot S. Glutamine metabolism, a double agent combating or fuelling hepatocellular carcinoma. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101077. [PMID: 38699532 PMCID: PMC11063524 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The reprogramming of glutamine metabolism is a key event in cancer more generally and in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in particular. Glutamine consumption supplies tumours with ATP and metabolites through anaplerosis of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, while glutamine production can be enhanced by the overexpression of glutamine synthetase. In HCC, increased glutamine production is driven by activating mutations in the CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin. Increased glutamine synthesis or utilisation impacts tumour epigenetics, oxidative stress, autophagy, immunity and associated pathways, such as the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway. In this review, we will discuss studies which emphasise the pro-tumoral or tumour-suppressive effect of glutamine overproduction. It is clear that more comprehensive studies are needed as a foundation from which to develop suitable therapies targeting glutamine metabolic pathways, depending on the predicted pro- or anti-tumour role of dysregulated glutamine metabolism in distinct genetic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razan Abou Ziki
- INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers (CRC), Paris, F-75006, France
- Équipe labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, France
| | - Sabine Colnot
- INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers (CRC), Paris, F-75006, France
- Équipe labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, France
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Zhao G, Cai Y, Wang Y, Fang Y, Wang S, Li N. Genetically predicted blood metabolites mediate the association between circulating immune cells and pancreatic cancer: A Mendelian randomization study. J Gene Med 2024; 26:e3691. [PMID: 38757222 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is characterized by metabolic dysregulation and unique immunological profiles. Nevertheless, the comprehensive understanding of immune and metabolic dysregulation of pancreatic cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the causal relationship of circulating immune cells and pancreatic cancer and identify the blood metabolites as potential mediators. METHODS The exposure and outcome genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data used in the present study were obtained from the GWAS open-access database (https://gwas.mrcieu.ac.uk). The study used 731 circulating immune cell features, 1400 types of blood metabolites and pancreatic cancer from GWAS. We then performed bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to explore the causal relationships between the circulating immune cells and pancreatic cancer, and two-step MR to discover potential mediating blood metabolites in this process. All statistical analyses were performed in R software. The STROBE-MR (i.e. Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology using Mendelian Randomization) checklist for the reporting of MR studies was also used. RESULTS MR analysis identified seven types of circulating immune cells causally associated with pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, there was no strong evidence that genetically predicted pancreatic cancer had an effect on these seven types of circulating immune cells. Further two-step MR analysis found 10 types of blood metabolites were causally associated with pancreatic cancer and the associations between circulating CD39+CD8+ T cells and pancreatic cancer were mediated by blood orotates with proportions of 5.18% (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS The present study provides evidence supporting the causal relationships between various circulating immune cells, especially CD39+CD8+ T cells, and pancreatic cancer, with a potential effect mediated by blood orotates. Further research is needed on additional risk factors as potential mediators and establish a comprehensive immunity-metabolism network in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo Zhao
- Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanting Cai
- Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yuning Wang
- Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shuhang Wang
- Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Li
- Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Huang F, Guo J, Zhao N, Hou M, Gai X, Yang S, Cai P, Wang Y, Ma Q, Zhao Q, Li L, Yang H, Jing Y, Jin D, Hu Z, Zha X, Wang H, Mao Y, Liu F, Zhang H. PTEN deficiency potentiates HBV-associated liver cancer development through augmented GP73/GOLM1. J Transl Med 2024; 22:254. [PMID: 38459588 PMCID: PMC10924424 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-04976-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for hepatic cancer, the majority of HBV carriers do not develop this lethal disease. Additional molecular alterations are thus implicated in the process of liver tumorigenesis. Since phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is decreased in approximately half of liver cancers, we investigated the significance of PTEN deficiency in HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS HBV-positive human liver cancer tissues were checked for PTEN expression. Transgenic HBV, Alb-Cre and Ptenfl/fl mice were inter-crossed to generate WT, HBV, Pten-/- and HBV; Pten-/- mice. Immunoblotting, histological analysis and qRT-PCR were used to study these livers. Gp73-/- mice were then mated with HBV; Pten-/- mice to illustrate the role of hepatic tumor biomarker golgi membrane protein 73 (GP73)/ golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) in hepatic oncogenesis. RESULTS Pten deletion and HBV transgene synergistically aggravated liver injury, inflammation, fibrosis and development of mixed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). GP73 was augmented in HBV; Pten-/- livers. Knockout of GP73 blunted the synergistic effect of deficient Pten and transgenic HBV on liver injury, inflammation, fibrosis and cancer development. CONCLUSIONS This mixed HCC-ICC mouse model mimics liver cancer patients harboring HBV infection and PTEN/AKT signaling pathway alteration. Targeting GP73 is a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer patients with HBV infection and PTEN alteration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Jing Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Na Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Mengjie Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Xiaochen Gai
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Shuhui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Pei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Qian Ma
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Huayu Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanling Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Di Jin
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Zhongdong Hu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojun Zha
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- International Co-Operation Laboratory On Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yilei Mao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fangming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China.
| | - Hongbing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, 100005, China.
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8
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Ragupathi A, Kim C, Jacinto E. The mTORC2 signaling network: targets and cross-talks. Biochem J 2024; 481:45-91. [PMID: 38270460 PMCID: PMC10903481 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The mechanistic target of rapamycin, mTOR, controls cell metabolism in response to growth signals and stress stimuli. The cellular functions of mTOR are mediated by two distinct protein complexes, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2. Rapamycin and its analogs are currently used in the clinic to treat a variety of diseases and have been instrumental in delineating the functions of its direct target, mTORC1. Despite the lack of a specific mTORC2 inhibitor, genetic studies that disrupt mTORC2 expression unravel the functions of this more elusive mTOR complex. Like mTORC1 which responds to growth signals, mTORC2 is also activated by anabolic signals but is additionally triggered by stress. mTORC2 mediates signals from growth factor receptors and G-protein coupled receptors. How stress conditions such as nutrient limitation modulate mTORC2 activation to allow metabolic reprogramming and ensure cell survival remains poorly understood. A variety of downstream effectors of mTORC2 have been identified but the most well-characterized mTORC2 substrates include Akt, PKC, and SGK, which are members of the AGC protein kinase family. Here, we review how mTORC2 is regulated by cellular stimuli including how compartmentalization and modulation of complex components affect mTORC2 signaling. We elaborate on how phosphorylation of its substrates, particularly the AGC kinases, mediates its diverse functions in growth, proliferation, survival, and differentiation. We discuss other signaling and metabolic components that cross-talk with mTORC2 and the cellular output of these signals. Lastly, we consider how to more effectively target the mTORC2 pathway to treat diseases that have deregulated mTOR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Ragupathi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, U.S.A
| | - Christian Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, U.S.A
| | - Estela Jacinto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, U.S.A
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9
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Liu F, Wu Y, Zhang B, Yang S, Shang K, Li J, Zhang P, Deng W, Chen L, Zheng L, Gai X, Zhang H. Oncogenic β-catenin-driven liver cancer is susceptible to methotrexate-mediated disruption of nucleotide synthesis. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:181-189. [PMID: 37612257 PMCID: PMC10798734 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver cancer is largely resistant to chemotherapy. This study aimed to identify the effective chemotherapeutics for β-catenin-activated liver cancer which is caused by gain-of-function mutation of catenin beta 1 ( CTNNB1 ), the most frequently altered proto-oncogene in hepatic neoplasms. METHODS Constitutive β-catenin-activated mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were established by deleting exon 3 ( β-catenin Δ(ex3)/+ ), the most common mutation site in CTNNB1 gene. A screening of 12 widely used chemotherapy drugs was conducted for the ones that selectively inhibited β-catenin Δ(ex3)/+ but not for wild-type MEFs. Untargeted metabolomics was carried out to examine the alterations of metabolites in nucleotide synthesis. The efficacy and selectivity of methotrexate (MTX) on β-catenin-activated human liver cancer cells were determined in vitro . Immuno-deficient nude mice subcutaneously inoculated with β-catenin wild-type or mutant liver cancer cells and hepatitis B virus ( HBV ); β-catenin lox(ex3)/+ mice were used, respectively, to evaluate the efficacy of MTX in the treatment of β-catenin mutant liver cancer. RESULTS MTX was identified and validated as a preferential agent against the proliferation and tumor formation of β-catenin-activated cells. Boosted nucleotide synthesis was the major metabolic aberration in β-catenin-active cells, and this alteration was also the target of MTX. Moreover, MTX abrogated hepatocarcinogenesis of HBV ; β-catenin lox(ex3)/+ mice, which stimulated concurrent Ctnnb1- activated mutation and HBV infection in liver cancer. CONCLUSION MTX is a promising chemotherapeutic agent for β-catenin hyperactive liver cancer. Since repurposing MTX has the advantages of lower risk, shorter timelines, and less investment in drug discovery and development, a clinical trial is warranted to test its efficacy in the treatment of β-catenin mutant liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangming Liu
- Department of Physiology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Yuting Wu
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Baohui Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Life Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China
| | - Shuhui Yang
- Department of Physiology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Kezhuo Shang
- Department of Physiology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Physiology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Pengju Zhang
- Department of Physiology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Weiwei Deng
- Department of Physiology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Linlin Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Liang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Ministry of Health, Institute of Pediatric Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Xiaochen Gai
- Department of Physiology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Hongbing Zhang
- Department of Physiology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
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10
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Zi L, Ma W, Zhang L, Qiao B, Qiu Z, Xu J, Zhang J, Ye Y, Yang Y, Dong K, Chen C, Wang W, Zhao Q. Uridine Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Development by Inducing Ferroptosis. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12103552. [PMID: 37240659 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12103552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Uridine is a key metabolite used as a substrate for the production of DNA, RNA, and glucose, and it is mainly synthesized in the liver. Currently, it is not known whether uridine levels are altered in the tumor microenvironment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and whether uridine can be a target for tumor therapy. In this study, the detection of genes associated with de novo uridine synthesis, carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamylase, dihydroorotase (CAD) (n = 115), and dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) (n = 115) in HCC tissues through tissue microarrays revealed that the expression of CAD and DHODH was higher in tumor compared with paraneoplastic tissues. Next, we collected tumor tissues from surgically resected HCC patients and the corresponding adjacent non-tumor tissues (n = 46) for LC-MS/MS assays. The results showed that the median and interquartile ranges of uridine content in non-tumor and tumor tissues were 640.36 (504.45-807.43) and 484.22 (311.91-626.73) nmol/g, respectively. These results suggest that uridine metabolism is disturbed in HCC patients. To further investigate whether uridine can be used as a tumor-therapeutic target, a series of high concentrations of uridine were incubated with HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. It was observed that uridine dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells by activating the ferroptosis pathway. Overall, these results reveal for the first time the range of uridine content in human HCC tissues and suggest that uridine may be a new target for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuliu Zi
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Laparoscopic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430060, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Wangbin Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Laparoscopic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Lilong Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Laparoscopic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Boyang Qiao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhendong Qiu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Laparoscopic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Junhui Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Laparoscopic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jiacheng Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Laparoscopic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Yahong Ye
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Yueyuan Yang
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Keshuai Dong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Laparoscopic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Laparoscopic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Weixing Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Laparoscopic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 238, Jiefang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Qingyan Zhao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
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11
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Li Y, Chen J, Wang B, Xu Z, Wu C, Ma J, Song Q, Geng Q, Yu J, Pei H, Yao Y. FOXK2 affects cancer cell response to chemotherapy by promoting nucleotide de novo synthesis. Drug Resist Updat 2023; 67:100926. [PMID: 36682222 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2023.100926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Nucleotide de novo synthesis is essential to cell growth and survival, and its dysregulation leads to cancers and drug resistance. However, how this pathway is dysregulated in cancer has not been well clarified. This study aimed to identify the regulatory mechanisms of nucleotide de novo synthesis and drug resistance. METHODS By combining the ChIP-Seq data from the Cistrome Data Browser, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and a luciferase-based promoter assay, we identified transcription factor FOXK2 as a regulator of nucleotide de novo synthesis. To explore the biological functions and mechanisms of FOXK2 in cancers, we conducted biochemical and cell biology assays in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we assessed the clinical significance of FOXK2 in hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS FOXK2 directly regulates the expression of nucleotide synthetic genes, promoting tumor growth and cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy. FOXK2 is SUMOylated by PIAS4, which elicits FOXK2 nuclear translocation, binding to the promoter regions and transcription of nucleotide synthetic genes. FOXK2 SUMOylation is repressed by DNA damage, and elevated FOXK2 SUMOylation promotes nucleotide de novo synthesis which causes resistance to 5-FU in hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinically, elevated expression of FOXK2 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients was associated with increased nucleotide synthetic gene expression and correlated with poor prognoses for patients. CONCLUSION Our findings establish FOXK2 as a novel regulator of nucleotide de novo synthesis, with potentially important implications for cancer etiology and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingge Li
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057, USA
| | - Jie Chen
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Ziwen Xu
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057, USA
| | - Ci Wu
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057, USA
| | - Junfeng Ma
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057, USA
| | - Qibin Song
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Qing Geng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jinming Yu
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong 250117, China.
| | - Huadong Pei
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057, USA.
| | - Yi Yao
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
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12
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Identification of Cancer Driver Genes by Integrating Multiomics Data with Graph Neural Networks. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13030339. [PMID: 36984779 PMCID: PMC10052551 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13030339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a heterogeneous disease that is driven by the accumulation of both genetic and nongenetic alterations, so integrating multiomics data and extracting effective information from them is expected to be an effective way to predict cancer driver genes. In this paper, we first generate comprehensive instructive features for each gene from genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic levels together with protein–protein interaction (PPI)-networks-derived attributes and then propose a novel semisupervised deep graph learning framework GGraphSAGE to predict cancer driver genes according to the impact of the alterations on a biological system. When applied to eight tumor types, experimental results suggest that GGraphSAGE outperforms several state-of-the-art computational methods for driver genes identification. Moreover, it broadens our current understanding of cancer driver genes from multiomics level and identifies driver genes specific to the tumor type rather than pan-cancer. We expect GGraphSAGE to open new avenues in precision medicine and even further predict drivers for other complex diseases.
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13
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Wu Y, Yang S, Han L, Shang K, Zhang B, Gai X, Deng W, Liu F, Zhang H. β-catenin-IRP2-primed iron availability to mitochondrial metabolism is druggable for active β-catenin-mediated cancer. J Transl Med 2023; 21:50. [PMID: 36703130 PMCID: PMC9879242 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-03914-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although β-catenin signaling cascade is frequently altered in human cancers, targeting this pathway has not been approved for cancer treatment. METHODS High-throughput screening of an FDA-approved drug library was conducted to identify therapeutics that selectively inhibited the cells with activated β-catenin. Efficacy of iron chelator and mitochondrial inhibitor was evaluated for suppression of cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Cellular chelatable iron levels were measured to gain insight into the potential vulnerability of β-catenin-activated cells to iron deprivation. Extracellular flux analysis of mitochondrial function was conducted to evaluate the downstream events of iron deprivation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, real-time quantitative PCR and immunoblotting were performed to identify β-catenin targets. Depletion of iron-regulatory protein 2 (IRP2), a key regulator of cellular iron homeostasis, was carried out to elucidate its significance in β-catenin-activated cells. Online databases were analyzed for correlation between β-catenin activity and IRP2-TfR1 axis in human cancers. RESULTS Iron chelators were identified as selective inhibitors against β-catenin-activated cells. Deferoxamine mesylate, an iron chelator, preferentially repressed β-catenin-activated cell proliferation and tumor formation in mice. Mechanically, β-catenin stimulated the transcription of IRP2 to increase labile iron level. Depletion of IRP2-sequered iron impaired β-catenin-invigorated mitochondrial function. Moreover, mitochondrial inhibitor S-Gboxin selectively reduced β-catenin-associated cell viability and tumor formation. CONCLUSIONS β-catenin/IRP2/iron stimulation of mitochondrial energetics is targetable vulnerability of β-catenin-potentiated cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Wu
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Shuhui Yang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Luyang Han
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Kezhuo Shang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Baohui Zhang
- grid.412449.e0000 0000 9678 1884Department of Physiology, School of Life Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaochen Gai
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Deng
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Fangming Liu
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Hongbing Zhang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
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14
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Lin ES, Huang YH, Yang PC, Peng WF, Huang CY. Complexed Crystal Structure of the Dihydroorotase Domain of Human CAD Protein with the Anticancer Drug 5-Fluorouracil. Biomolecules 2023; 13:149. [PMID: 36671534 PMCID: PMC9856072 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Dihydroorotase (DHOase) is the third enzyme in the pathway used for the biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides. In mammals, DHOase is active in a trifunctional enzyme, CAD, which also carries out the activities of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase and aspartate transcarbamoylase. Prior to this study, it was unknown whether the FDA-approved clinical drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which is used as an anticancer therapy, could bind to the DHOase domain of human CAD (huDHOase). Here, we identified huDHOase as a new 5-FU binding protein, thereby extending the 5-FU interactome to this human enzyme. In order to investigate where 5-FU binds to huDHOase, we solved the complexed crystal structure at 1.97 Ã… (PDB ID 8GVZ). The structure of huDHOase complexed with malate was also determined for the sake of comparison (PDB ID 8GW0). These two nonsubstrate ligands were bound at the active site of huDHOase. It was previously established that the substrate N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate is either bound to or moves away from the active site, but it is the loop that is extended towards (loop-in mode) or moved away (loop-out mode) from the active site. DHOase also binds to nonsubstrate ligands via the loop-out mode. In contrast to the Escherichia coli DHOase model, our complexed structures revealed that huDHOase binds to either 5-FU or malate via the loop-in mode. We further characterized the binding of 5-FU to huDHOase using site-directed mutagenesis and the fluorescence quenching method. Considering the loop-in mode, the dynamic loop in huDHOase should be a suitable drug-targeting site for further designing inhibitors and clinical chemotherapies to suppress pyrimidine biosynthesis in cancer cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- En-Shyh Lin
- Department of Beauty Science, National Taichung University of Science and Technology, Taichung City 403, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Department of Beauty Science, National Taichung University of Science and Technology, Taichung City 403, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chun Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Feng Peng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Children’s Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yang Huang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
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