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Li S, Zhang Z, Li Z, Yang L, Liu J, Liu Y, Liu Y, Hou Y, Mei M, Huang Y. CENPA promotes glutamine metabolism and tumor progression by up-regulating SLC38A1 in endometrial cancer. Cell Signal 2024; 117:111110. [PMID: 38382691 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111110] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Glutamine addiction is a significant hallmark of metabolic reprogramming in tumors and is crucial to the progression of cancer. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms of glutamine metabolism in endometrial cancer (EC) remains elusive. In this research, we found that elevated expression of CENPA and solute carrier family 38 member 1 (SLC38A1) were firmly associated with worse clinical stage and unfavorable outcomes in EC patients. In addition, ectopic overexpression or silencing of CENPA could either enhance or diminish glutamine metabolism and tumor progression in EC. Mechanistically, CENPA directly regulated the transcriptional activity of the target gene, SLC38A1, leading to enhanced glutamine uptake and metabolism, thereby promoting EC progression. Notably, a prognostic model utilizing the expression levels of CENPA and SLC38A1 genes independently emerged as a prognostic factor for EC. More importantly, CENPA and SLC38A1 were significantly elevated and positively correlated, as well as indicative of poor prognosis in multiple cancers. In brief, our study confirmed that CENPA is a critical transcription factor involved in glutamine metabolism and tumor progression through modulating SLC38A1. This revelation suggests that targeting CENPA could be an appealing therapeutic approach to address pan-cancer glutamine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zihui Zhang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhifang Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China
| | - Lian Yang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yujie Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yancai Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yanmei Hou
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China
| | - Mei Mei
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China.
| | - Yuqin Huang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China.
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Yang Y, Jia S, Zhu N, Xiao X, Ma Y, Tu K, Guo Y, Xu Q. OTUD5 promotes the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by deubiquitinating and stabilizing SLC38A1. Biol Direct 2024; 19:31. [PMID: 38658981 PMCID: PMC11041014 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-024-00475-0] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) cleave ubiquitin on substrate molecules to maintain protein stability. DUBs reportedly participate in the tumorigenesis and tumour progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). OTU deubiquitinase 5 (OTUD5), a DUB family member, has been recognized as a critical regulator in bladder cancer, breast cancer and HCC. However, the expression and biological function of OTUD5 in HCC are still controversial. RESULTS We determined that the expression of OTUD5 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues. High levels of OTUD5 were also detected in most HCC cell lines. TCGA data analysis demonstrated that high OTUD5 expression indicated poorer overall survival in HCC patients. OTUD5 silencing prominently suppressed HCC cell proliferation, while its overexpression markedly enhanced the proliferation of HCC cells. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed solute carrier family 38 member 1 (SLC38A1) as a candidate downstream target protein of OTUD5. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis confirmed the interaction between OTUD5 and SLC38A1. OTUD5 knockdown reduced and OTUD5 overexpression increased SLC38A1 protein levels in HCC cells. However, OTUD5 alteration had no effect on SLC38A1 mRNA expression. OTUD5 maintained SLC38A1 stability by preventing its ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation. SLC38A1 silencing prominently attenuated the OTUD5-induced increase in HCC cell proliferation. Finally, OTUD5 knockdown markedly suppressed the growth of HCC cells in vivo. CONCLUSIONS OTUD5 is an oncogene in HCC. OTUD5 contributes to HCC cell proliferation by deubiquitinating and stabilizing SLC38A1. These results may provide a theoretical basis for the development of new anti-HCC drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingnan Yang
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, 310014, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710061, Xi'an, China
| | - Siying Jia
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710061, Xi'an, China
| | - Ning Zhu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, 310014, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710061, Xi'an, China
| | - Xuelian Xiao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710061, Xi'an, China
| | - Ying Ma
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, 710018, Xi'an, China
| | - Kangsheng Tu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710061, Xi'an, China
| | - Yong Guo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shangluo Central Hospital, 726000, Shangluo, China.
| | - Qiuran Xu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, 310014, Hangzhou, China.
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Wang B, Pei J, Xu S, Liu J, Yu J. A glutamine tug-of-war between cancer and immune cells: recent advances in unraveling the ongoing battle. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:74. [PMID: 38459595 PMCID: PMC10921613 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-02994-0] [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: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Glutamine metabolism plays a pivotal role in cancer progression, immune cell function, and the modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Dysregulated glutamine metabolism has been implicated in cancer development and immune responses, supported by mounting evidence. Cancer cells heavily rely on glutamine as a critical nutrient for survival and proliferation, while immune cells require glutamine for activation and proliferation during immune reactions. This metabolic competition creates a dynamic tug-of-war between cancer and immune cells. Targeting glutamine transporters and downstream enzymes involved in glutamine metabolism holds significant promise in enhancing anti-tumor immunity. A comprehensive understanding of the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying this interplay is crucial for developing innovative therapeutic approaches that improve anti-tumor immunity and patient outcomes. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in unraveling the tug-of-war of glutamine metabolism between cancer and immune cells and explore potential applications of basic science discoveries in the clinical setting. Further investigations into the regulation of glutamine metabolism in cancer and immune cells are expected to yield valuable insights, paving the way for future therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bolin Wang
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jinli Pei
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shengnan Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Jinming Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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Fan Y, Xue H, Li Z, Huo M, Gao H, Guan X. Exploiting the Achilles' heel of cancer: disrupting glutamine metabolism for effective cancer treatment. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1345522. [PMID: 38510646 PMCID: PMC10952006 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1345522] [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: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells have adapted to rapid tumor growth and evade immune attack by reprogramming their metabolic pathways. Glutamine is an important nitrogen resource for synthesizing amino acids and nucleotides and an important carbon source in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and lipid biosynthesis pathway. In this review, we summarize the significant role of glutamine metabolism in tumor development and highlight the vulnerabilities of targeting glutamine metabolism for effective therapy. In particular, we review the reported drugs targeting glutaminase and glutamine uptake for efficient cancer treatment. Moreover, we discuss the current clinical test about targeting glutamine metabolism and the prospective direction of drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Fan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medical Technology, Beihua University, Jilin City, China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Han Xue
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medical Technology, Beihua University, Jilin City, China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhimin Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medical Technology, Beihua University, Jilin City, China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Mingge Huo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medical Technology, Beihua University, Jilin City, China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hongxia Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medical Technology, Beihua University, Jilin City, China
| | - Xingang Guan
- Department of Basic Medicine, Medical School, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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Sapkota D, Wang D, Schreurs O, Vallenari EM, Pandey Dhakal S, Küntziger T, Toközlü BS, Utheim TP, Chaudhry FA. Investigation of Roles of SLC38A1 in Proliferation and Differentiation of Mouse Tongue Epithelium and Expression in Human Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:405. [PMID: 38254895 PMCID: PMC10814082 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020405] [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: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The aerobic glycolytic pathway, boosting lactate formation, and glutamine addiction are two hallmarks of cancer pathophysiology. Consistent with this, several cell membrane glutamine transporters, belonging to different solute carrier (SLC) families, have been shown to be upregulated in a cell-specific manner to furnish the cells with glutamine and glutamine-derived metabolic intermediates. Among them, the system A transporter Slc38a1 has a higher affinity for glutamine compared to other SLC transporters, and it undergoes highly multifaceted regulation at gene and protein levels. The current study aimed to investigate the functional role of Slc38a1 in the proliferation and maturation of the mouse tongue epithelium. Secondly, we aimed to examine the expression of SLC38A1 and its regulation in human tongue oral squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). Employing Slc38a1 wild-type and knockout mice, we showed that Slc38a1 was not directly linked to the regulation of the proliferation and differentiation of the mouse tongue epithelium. External transcriptomic datasets and Western blot analyses showed upregulation of SLC38A1 mRNA/protein in human OTSCC and oral cancer cell lines as compared to the corresponding controls. Further, an investigation of external datasets indicated that mechanisms other than the amplification of the SLC38A1 chromosomal locus or hypomethylation of the SLC38A1 promoter region might be important for the upregulation of SLC38A1 in OTSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipak Sapkota
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Daxin Wang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Olaf Schreurs
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Evan M. Vallenari
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Sushma Pandey Dhakal
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Thomas Küntziger
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Burcu Sengüven Toközlü
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Gazi University, Ankara 06510, Turkey
| | - Tor Paaske Utheim
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Farrukh Abbas Chaudhry
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
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Wang ZQ, Li YQ, Wang DY, Shen YQ. Natural product piperlongumine inhibits proliferation of oral squamous carcinoma cells by inducing ferroptosis and inhibiting intracellular antioxidant capacity. Transl Cancer Res 2023; 12:2911-2922. [PMID: 37969394 PMCID: PMC10643964 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-22-1494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Background As a new form of cell death, ferroptosis has been shown to have inhibitory effects on a variety of tumor cells except oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). There were few investigations on the effects and molecular mechanisms of piperlongumine (PL, a ferroptosis inducer) and CB-839 (a GLS1 inhibitor which promotes ferroptosis) on OSCC cells. This article assesses the anticancer effect and mechanism of PL as well as combined with CB-839. Methods OSCC cells were treated with specified concentration of PL alone or with ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) and antioxidant N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) to assess their effects on biological characteristics such as cell proliferation, cell death and intracellular ferroptosis related pathways. Also, cells were treated with PL combined with CB-839 to evaluate the synergistic effect of CB-839 on PL's anticancer effects. Results The results showed that the proliferation rate of PL-treated OSCC cells were decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PL can induce OSCC cells apoptosis. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were accumulated after PL treatment. We found some protein changes significantly such as the expression of DMT1 increased, and the expression of FTH1, SLC7A11 and GPX4 decreased. In addition, the anti-proliferation effect of PL can be reversed by Fer-1 and NAC and the level of LPO and ROS was decreased accordingly. Importantly, we found that PL and CB-839 in combination could decrease the cell viability and the LPO level synergistically, accompanied by a large consumption of glutathione (GSH). These evidences prove that PL can induce ferroptosis of OSCC cells, which can be enhanced by CB-839. Conclusions Our study suggested that the nature product PL can induce the ferroptotic death of OSCC cells, which is further enhanced when combined with CB-839. The synergistic anticancer effect of these two may prove new strategy for OSCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ya-Qi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dong-Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying-Qiang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Ye Y, Yu B, Wang H, Yi F. Glutamine metabolic reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1242059. [PMID: 37635935 PMCID: PMC10452011 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1242059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal disease with limited management strategies and poor prognosis. Metabolism alternations have been frequently unveiled in HCC, including glutamine metabolic reprogramming. The components of glutamine metabolism, such as glutamine synthetase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glutaminase, metabolites, and metabolite transporters, are validated to be potential biomarkers of HCC. Increased glutamine consumption is confirmed in HCC, which fuels proliferation by elevated glutamate dehydrogenase or upstream signals. Glutamine metabolism also serves as a nitrogen source for amino acid or nucleotide anabolism. In addition, more glutamine converts to glutathione as an antioxidant in HCC to protect HCC cells from oxidative stress. Moreover, glutamine metabolic reprogramming activates the mTORC signaling pathway to support tumor cell proliferation. Glutamine metabolism targeting therapy includes glutamine deprivation, related enzyme inhibitors, and transporters inhibitors. Together, glutamine metabolic reprogramming plays a pivotal role in HCC identification, proliferation, and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Ye
- Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Bodong Yu
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang, China
| | - Fengming Yi
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang, China
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Integrated analysis of ferroptosis-related gene signature for overall survival prediction in Asian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 2023; 25:721-730. [PMID: 36319928 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02977-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent types of cancers in Asia. Accumulating evidence suggests that ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of cell death, and has played an important role in cancer biology. METHODS Based on the manually curated ferroptosis-related gene set and TCGA-LIHC dataset of Asian patients, we used DESeq2, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and univariate Cox regression to identify differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes with significantly prognostic capacity. A risk signature was constructed based on the selected genes for predicting the survival of HCC patients in Asia. The survival prediction accuracy was confirmed by the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was used to explore the functional associations of the signature. Ferroptosis potential index (FPI) and xCell algorithm was applied to quantify ferroptosis and immune cell infiltration, respectively. Two independent datasets from the GEO and the ICGC database were used for external validation. RESULTS The ferroptosis-related signature could accurately predict the survival outcomes of HCC patients in Asian (p value < 0.0001). We showed that the signature was an independent factor and was beneficial in elevating risk stratification of current clinicopathologic features, such as the amount of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and residual tumor classification. Functional characterization showed that critical processes in tumorigenesis belonged to the high-risk groups, for example inflammatory response, which may be the main driver of HCC. The high-risk group had higher FPIs and infiltrations of macrophages and T-helper cells than the low-risk group. Furthermore, two independent cohorts confirmed the prognostic value of our signature. CONCLUSION Overall, our results demonstrated potential application of ferroptosis-related genes as independent biomarkers in Asian HCC patients. Targeting ferroptosis may be clinically useful beyond known clinicopathological factors and provide benefit in immunotherapy.
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Ma Q, Hui Y, Huang BR, Yang BF, Li JX, Fan TT, Gao XC, Ma DY, Chen WF, Pei ZX. Ferroptosis and cuproptosis prognostic signature for prediction of prognosis, immunotherapy and drug sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma: development and validation based on TCGA and ICGC databases. Transl Cancer Res 2023; 12:46-64. [PMID: 36760376 PMCID: PMC9906058 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-22-2203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy. Ferroptosis and cuproptosis promote HCC spread and proliferation. While fewer studies have combined ferroptosis and cuproptosis to construct prognostic signature of HCC. This work attempts to establish a novel scoring system for predicting HCC prognosis, immunotherapy, and medication sensitivity based on ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) and cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs). Methods FerrDb and previous literature were used to identify FRGs. CRGs came from original research. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases included the HCC transcriptional profile and clinical information [survival time, survival status, age, gender, Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage, etc.]. Correlation, Cox, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses were used to narrow down prognostic genes and develop an HCC risk model. Using "caret", R separated TCGA-HCC samples into a training risk set and an internal test risk set. As external validation, we used ICGC samples. We employed Kaplan-Meier analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to evaluate the model's clinical efficacy. CIBERSORT and TIMER measured immunocytic infiltration in high- and low-risk populations. Results TXNRD1 [hazard ratio (HR) =1.477, P<0.001], FTL (HR =1.373, P=0.001), GPX4 (HR =1.650, P=0.004), PRDX1 (HR =1.576, P=0.002), VDAC2 (HR =1.728, P=0.008), OTUB1 (HR =1.826, P=0.002), NRAS (HR =1.596, P=0.005), SLC38A1 (HR =1.290, P=0.002), and SLC1A5 (HR =1.306, P<0.001) were distinguished to build predictive model. In both the model cohort (P<0.001) and the validation cohort (P<0.05), low-risk patients had superior overall survival (OS). The areas under the curve (AUCs) of the ROC curves in the training cohort (1-, 3-, and 5-year AUCs: 0.751, 0.727, and 0.743), internal validation cohort (1-, 3-, and 5-year AUCs: 0.826, 0.624, and 0.589), and ICGC cohort (1-, 3-, and 5-year AUCs: 0.699, 0.702, and 0.568) were calculated. Infiltration of immune cells and immunological checkpoints were also connected with our signature. Treatments with BI.2536, Epothilone.B, Gemcitabine, Mitomycin.C, Obatoclax. Mesylate, and Sunitinib may profit high-risk patients. Conclusions We analyzed FRGs and CRGs profiles in HCC and established a unique risk model for treatment and prognosis. Our data highlight FRGs and CRGs in clinical practice and suggest ferroptosis and cuproptosis may be therapeutic targets for HCC patients. To validate the model's clinical efficacy, more HCC cases and prospective clinical assessments are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Ma
- School of Integrative Medicine, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuan Hui
- School of Integrative Medicine, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bang-Rong Huang
- Department of Oncology, Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bin-Feng Yang
- Department of Oncology, Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jing-Xian Li
- School of Integrative Medicine, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ting-Ting Fan
- School of Integrative Medicine, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiang-Chun Gao
- School of Integrative Medicine, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Da-You Ma
- School of Integrative Medicine, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei-Fu Chen
- School of Integrative Medicine, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zheng-Xue Pei
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Gansu Cancer Hospital, Lanzhou, China
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Ni R, Li Z, Li L, Peng D, Ming Y, Li L, Liu Y. Rethinking glutamine metabolism and the regulation of glutamine addiction by oncogenes in cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1143798. [PMID: 36959802 PMCID: PMC10029103 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1143798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamine, the most abundant non-essential amino acid in human blood, is crucial for cancer cell growth and cancer progression. Glutamine mainly functions as a carbon and nitrogen source for biosynthesis, energy metabolism, and redox homeostasis maintenance in cancer cells. Dysregulated glutamine metabolism is a notable metabolic characteristic of cancer cells. Some carcinogen-driven cancers exhibit a marked dependence on glutamine, also known as glutamine addiction, which has rendered the glutamine metabolic pathway a breakpoint in cancer therapeutics. However, some cancer cells can adapt to the glutamine unavailability by reprogramming metabolism, thus limiting the success of this therapeutic approach. Given the complexity of metabolic networks and the limited impact of inhibiting glutamine metabolism alone, the combination of glutamine metabolism inhibition and other therapeutic methods may outperform corresponding monotherapies in the treatment of cancers. This review summarizes the uptake, transport, and metabolic characteristics of glutamine, as well as the regulation of glutamine dependence by some important oncogenes in various cancers to emphasize the therapeutic potential of targeting glutamine metabolism. Furthermore, we discuss a glutamine metabolic pathway, the glutaminase II pathway, that has been substantially overlooked. Finally, we discuss the applicability of polytherapeutic strategies targeting glutamine metabolism to provide a new perspective on cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Ni
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ziwei Li
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dan Peng
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yue Ming
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of pharmacy, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Lin Li, ; Yao Liu,
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Lin Li, ; Yao Liu,
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Shi X, Tang L, Ni H, Li M, Wu Y, Xu Y. Identification of Ferroptosis-Related Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Molecular Classification of Staphylococcus aureus-Induced Osteomyelitis. J Inflamm Res 2023; 16:1805-1823. [PMID: 37131411 PMCID: PMC10149083 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s406562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Staphylococcus aureus (SA)-induced osteomyelitis (OM) is one of the most common refractory diseases in orthopedics. Early diagnosis is beneficial to improve the prognosis of patients. Ferroptosis plays a key role in inflammation and immune response, while the mechanism of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in SA-induced OM is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of ferroptosis-related genes in the diagnosis, molecular classification and immune infiltration of SA-induced OM by bioinformatics. Methods Datasets related to SA-induced OM and ferroptosis were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and ferroptosis databases, respectively. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithms were combined to screen out differentially expressed-FRGs (DE-FRGs) with diagnostic characteristics, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) were used to explore specific biological functions and pathways. Based on these key DE-FRGs, a diagnostic model was established, and molecular subtypes were divided to explore the changes in the immune microenvironment between molecular subtypes. Results A total of 41 DE-FRGs were identified. After screening and intersecting with LASSO and SVM-RFE algorithms, 8 key DE-FRGs with diagnostic characteristics were obtained, which may regulate the pathogenesis of OM through the immune response and amino acid metabolism. The ROC curve indicated that the 8 DE-FRGs had excellent diagnostic ability for SA-induced OM (AUC=0.993). Two different molecular subtypes (subtype 1 and subtype 2) were identified by unsupervised cluster analysis. The CIBERSORT analysis revealed that the subtype 1 OM had higher immune cell infiltration rates, mainly in T cells CD4 memory resting, macrophages M0, macrophages M2, dendritic cells resting, and dendritic cells activated. Conclusion We developed a diagnostic model related to ferroptosis and molecular subtypes significantly related to immune infiltration, which may provide a novel insight for exploring the pathogenesis and immunotherapy of SA-induced OM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangwen Shi
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
- Laboratory of Yunnan Traumatology and Orthopedics Clinical Medical Center, Yunnan Orthopedics and Sports Rehabilitation Clinical Medical Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Linmeng Tang
- Bone and Joint Imaging Center, Department of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haonan Ni
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingjun Li
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yipeng Wu
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
- Laboratory of Yunnan Traumatology and Orthopedics Clinical Medical Center, Yunnan Orthopedics and Sports Rehabilitation Clinical Medical Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yongqing Xu
- Laboratory of Yunnan Traumatology and Orthopedics Clinical Medical Center, Yunnan Orthopedics and Sports Rehabilitation Clinical Medical Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Yongqing Xu; Yipeng Wu, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, 212 Daguan Road, Xi Shan District, Kunming, Yunnan, 650100, People’s Republic of China, Email ;
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Li H, Zhao A, Li M, Shi L, Han Q, Hou Z. Targeting T-cell metabolism to boost immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1046755. [PMID: 36569893 PMCID: PMC9768337 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1046755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown promising therapeutic effects in the treatment of advanced solid cancers, but their overall response rate is still very low for certain tumor subtypes, limiting their clinical scope. Moreover, the high incidence of drug resistance (including primary and acquired) and adverse effects pose significant challenges to the utilization of these therapies in the clinic. ICIs enhance T cell activation and reverse T cell exhaustion, which is a complex and multifactorial process suggesting that the regulatory mechanisms of ICI therapy are highly heterogeneous. Recently, metabolic reprogramming has emerged as a novel means of reversing T-cell exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment; there is increasing evidence that T cell metabolic disruption limits the therapeutic effect of ICIs. This review focuses on the crosstalk between T-cell metabolic reprogramming and ICI therapeutic efficacy, and summarizes recent strategies to improve drug tolerance and enhance anti-tumor effects by targeting T-cell metabolism alongside ICI therapy. The identification of potential targets for altering T-cell metabolism can significantly contribute to the development of methods to predict therapeutic responsiveness in patients receiving ICI therapy, which are currently unknown but would be of great clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haohao Li
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Alison Zhao
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Menghua Li
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Lizhi Shi
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Qiuju Han
- Institute of Immunopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China,*Correspondence: Qiuju Han, ; Zhaohua Hou,
| | - Zhaohua Hou
- Thoracic Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States,*Correspondence: Qiuju Han, ; Zhaohua Hou,
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miR-373-3p Regulates the Proliferative and Migratory Properties of Human HTR8 Cells via SLC38A1 Modulation. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:6582357. [PMID: 35837487 PMCID: PMC9274228 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6582357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The genetic pathogenesis of selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) remains elusive, with evidence suggesting an important role of epigenetic factors such as microRNAs. In this study, we explored the relevance of miR-373-3p to the occurrence of sIUGR. Hypoxia enhanced the levels of miR-373-3p and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, while HIF-1α knockdown not only boosted the migration and proliferation of HTR8 cells but also suppressed the hypoxia-induced upregulation of miR-373-3p and SLC38A1. By contrast, HIF-1α overexpression induced miR-373-3p downregulation and SLC38A1 upregulation, reducing cell growth and migration, which could be reversed by a miR-373-3p inhibitor. Importantly, the miR-373-3p inhibitor and mimic reproduced phenomena similar to those induced by HIF-1α downregulation and overexpression, respectively (including altered SLC38A1 expression, mTOR activation, cell growth, and migration). Mechanistically, the miRNA regulated cell behaviors and related mTOR signaling by targeting SLC38A1 expression through an interaction with the 3′-untranslated region of SLC38A1. The placental tissues of smaller sIUGR fetuses exhibited miR-373-3p and HIF-1α upregulation, SLC38A1 downregulation, and activated mTOR. Overall, miR-373-3p appears to restrict the growth and migration of HTR8 trophoblast cells by targeting SLC38A1, as observed in the placental tissues associated with smaller sIUGR fetuses, and it could have utility in the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.
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