1
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Cyriac R, Lee K. Glutaminase inhibition as potential cancer therapeutics: current status and future applications. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2024; 39:2290911. [PMID: 38078371 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2290911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in normal metabolic processes are defining features of cancer. Glutamine, an abundant amino acid in the human blood, plays a critical role in regulating several biosynthetic and bioenergetic pathways that support tumour growth. Glutaminolysis is a metabolic pathway that converts glutamine into various metabolites involved in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and generates antioxidants that are vital for tumour cell survival. As glutaminase catalyses the initial step of this metabolic pathway, it is of great significance in cancer metabolism and tumour progression. Inhibition of glutaminase and targeting of glutaminolysis have emerged as promising strategies for cancer therapy. This review explores the role of glutaminases in cancer metabolism and discusses various glutaminase inhibitors developed as potential therapies for tumour regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajath Cyriac
- Bio & Drug Discovery Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
- Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacology, Korea National University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Kwangho Lee
- Bio & Drug Discovery Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
- Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacology, Korea National University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
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2
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Jamshidi-Parsian A, Jenkins SV, Tran A, Bragg A, Davis R, Griffin C, Siegel E, Dings RPM, Griffin RJ, Boysen G. CB-839 induces reversible dormancy in lung tumor-cells. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 982:176912. [PMID: 39159716 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176912] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
Glutaminase inhibitors are currently being explored as potential treatments for cancer. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of CB-839 on lung tumor cell lines compared to non-tumor cell lines. Viability assays based on NADPH-dependent dehydrogenases activity, ATP energy production, or mitochondrial reductase activity were used to determine that CB-839 caused significant tumor cell specific inhibition of cellular functions. Clonogenic survival assay revealed a dose dependent reduction in clonogenic survival of various lung tumor cells presenting estimated IC50 values between 10 and 90 nM, while no effect on non-tumor cells was observed. CB-839 led to a 20% reduction in glutaminase (GLS1, a mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of glutamine to glutamate) activity, and a dose-dependent reduced glutamine consumption in tumor cells and had no effect on non-tumor cells. Cell cycle analysis showed the CB-839 did not lead to cell cycle arrest. Apoptosis and necrosis assays revealed an only slight increase in apoptosis in tumor cells. Furthermore, a trypan blue exclusion assay revealed about 40% growth reduction in tumor cells at 0.1-1 μM CB-839 treatment. Surprisingly, treated cells resumed normal growth when re-plated in a drug-free medium, demonstrating reversibility. In hypoxic conditions, CB-839's effect on clonogenic survival was amplified in a dose dependent manner consistent with increased role of GLS1 for energy production under hypoxic conditions. In conclusion, these results suggest CB-839 efficacy is linked to temporary and reversible reduction in glutamine utilization suggesting induction of dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azemat Jamshidi-Parsian
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Samir V Jenkins
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Amy Tran
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Anna Bragg
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Rylie Davis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Connor Griffin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Eric Siegel
- The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; Department of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Ruud P M Dings
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Robert J Griffin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Gunnar Boysen
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA; The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
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3
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Zheng X, Zhang S, Ma H, Dong Y, Zheng J, Zeng L, Liu J, Dai Y, Yin Q. Replenishment of TCA cycle intermediates and long-noncoding RNAs regulation in breast cancer. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 592:112321. [PMID: 38936596 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is an essential interface that coordinates cellular metabolism and is as a primary route determining the fate of a variety of fuel sources, including glucose, fatty acid and glutamate. The crosstalk of nutrients replenished TCA cycle regulates breast cancer (BC) progression by changing substrate levels-induced epigenetic alterations, especially the methylation, acetylation, succinylation and lactylation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) have dual roles in inhibiting or promoting energy reprogramming, and so altering the metabolic flux of fuel sources to the TCA cycle, which may regulate epigenetic modifications at the cellular level of BC. This narrative review discussed the central role of the TCA cycle in interconnecting numerous fuels and the induced epigenetic modifications, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewei Zheng
- Precision Medicine Laboratory, School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - ShunShun Zhang
- Precision Medicine Laboratory, School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - HaoDi Ma
- Precision Medicine Laboratory, School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Yirui Dong
- Precision Medicine Laboratory, School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Jiayu Zheng
- Precision Medicine Laboratory, School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Li Zeng
- Precision Medicine Laboratory, School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Jiangbo Liu
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Yanzhenzi Dai
- Animal Science, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, UK.
| | - Qinan Yin
- Precision Medicine Laboratory, School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China.
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4
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Hassan FS, El-Fakharany EM, El-Maradny YA, Saleh AK, El-Sayed MH, Mazi W, Omer N, Abdelaziz MA, Jame R, Alatawi IS, El-Gendi H. Comprehensive insight into exploring the potential of microbial enzymes in cancer therapy: Progress, challenges, and opportunities: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 277:134535. [PMID: 39111467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134535] [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: 06/15/2024] [Revised: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024]
Abstract
Microbial enzymes are crucial catalysts in various industries due to their versatility and efficiency. The microbial enzymes market has recently expanded due to increased demand for many reasons. Among them are eco-friendly solutions, developing novel microbial strains with enhanced enzymes that perform under harsh conditions, providing sustainability, and raising awareness about the benefits of enzyme-based products. By 2030, the global enzyme market is expected to account for $525 billion, with a growth rate of 6.7 %. L-asparaginase and L-glutaminase are among the leading applied microbial enzymes in antitumor therapy, with a growing market share of 16.5 % and 9.5 %, respectively. The use of microbial enzymes has opened new opportunities to fight various tumors, including leukemia, lymphosarcoma, and breast cancer, which has increased their demand in the pharmaceutical and medicine sectors. Despite their promising applications, commercial use of microbial enzymes faces challenges such as short half-life, immunogenicity, toxicity, and other side effects. Therefore, this review explores the industrial production, purification, formulation, and commercial utilization of microbial enzymes, along with an overview of the global enzyme market. With ongoing discoveries of novel enzymes and their applications, enzyme technology offers promising avenues for cancer treatment and other therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fareed Shawky Hassan
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Esmail M El-Fakharany
- Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt; Pharmaceutical and Fermentation Industries Development Centre (PFIDC), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt; Pharos University in Alexandria, Canal El Mahmoudia Street, Beside Green Plaza Complex, 21648, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Yousra A El-Maradny
- Pharmaceutical and Fermentation Industries Development Centre (PFIDC), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ahmed K Saleh
- Cellulose and Paper Department, National Research Centre, El-Tahrir St., Dokki 12622, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed H El-Sayed
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Arts-Rafha, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wafa Mazi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Noha Omer
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud A Abdelaziz
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rasha Jame
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Saleem Alatawi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamada El-Gendi
- Bioprocess development department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
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5
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Zhang H, Li S, Wang D, Liu S, Xiao T, Gu W, Yang H, Wang H, Yang M, Chen P. Metabolic reprogramming and immune evasion: the interplay in the tumor microenvironment. Biomark Res 2024; 12:96. [PMID: 39227970 PMCID: PMC11373140 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00646-1] [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: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells possess complex immune evasion mechanisms to evade immune system attacks, primarily through metabolic reprogramming, which significantly alters the tumor microenvironment (TME) to modulate immune cell functions. When a tumor is sufficiently immunogenic, it can activate cytotoxic T-cells to target and destroy it. However, tumors adapt by manipulating their metabolic pathways, particularly glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism, to create an immunosuppressive TME that promotes immune escape. These metabolic alterations impact the function and differentiation of non-tumor cells within the TME, such as inhibiting effector T-cell activity while expanding regulatory T-cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Additionally, these changes lead to an imbalance in cytokine and chemokine secretion, further enhancing the immunosuppressive landscape. Emerging research is increasingly focusing on the regulatory roles of non-tumor cells within the TME, evaluating how their reprogrammed glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism influence their functional changes and ultimately aid in tumor immune evasion. Despite our incomplete understanding of the intricate metabolic interactions between tumor and non-tumor cells, the connection between these elements presents significant challenges for cancer immunotherapy. This review highlights the impact of altered glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism in the TME on the metabolism and function of non-tumor cells, providing new insights that could facilitate the development of novel cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Zhang
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shizhen Li
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Siyang Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tengfei Xiao
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Wangning Gu
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Hongmin Yang
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Hui Wang
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China.
| | - Minghua Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Pan Chen
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China.
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6
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Jia S, Bode AM, Chen X, Luo X. Unlocking the potential: Targeting metabolic pathways in the tumor microenvironment for Cancer therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189166. [PMID: 39111710 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189166] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Cancer incidence and mortality are increasing and impacting global life expectancy. Metabolic reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is intimately related to tumorigenesis, progression, metastasis and drug resistance. Tumor cells drive metabolic reprogramming of other cells in the TME through metabolic induction of cytokines and metabolites, and metabolic substrate competition. Consequently, this boosts tumor cell growth by providing metabolic support and facilitating immunosuppression and angiogenesis. The metabolic interplay in the TME presents potential therapeutic targets. Here, we focus on the metabolic reprogramming of four principal cell subsets in the TME: CAFs, TAMs, TILs and TECs, and their interaction with tumor cells. We also summarize medications and therapies targeting these cells' metabolic pathways, particularly in the context of immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Jia
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Oncotarget Gene, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Invasion, Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, PR China
| | - Ann M Bode
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Xue Chen
- Early Clinical Trial Center, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China.
| | - Xiangjian Luo
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Oncotarget Gene, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Invasion, Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, PR China; Key Laboratory of Biological Nanotechnology of National Health Commission, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China.
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7
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El-Tanani M, Rabbani SA, El-Tanani Y, Matalka II. Metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer: A new therapeutic strategy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 201:104438. [PMID: 38977145 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104438] [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: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer metabolism is now a key area for therapeutic intervention, targeting unique metabolic reprogramming crucial for tumor growth and survival. This article reviews the therapeutic potential of addressing metabolic vulnerabilities through glycolysis and glutaminase inhibitors, which disrupt cancer cell metabolism. Challenges such as tumor heterogeneity and adaptive resistance are discussed, with strategies including personalized medicine and predictive biomarkers to enhance treatment efficacy. Additionally, integrating diet and lifestyle changes with metabolic targeting underscores a holistic approach to improving therapy outcomes. The article also examines the benefits of incorporating these strategies into standard care, highlighting the potential for more tailored, safer treatments. In conclusion, exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities promises a new era in oncology, positioning metabolic targeting at the forefront of personalized cancer therapy and transforming patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed El-Tanani
- RAK College of Pharmacy, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Syed Arman Rabbani
- RAK College of Pharmacy, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Yahia El-Tanani
- Medical School, St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London, UK
| | - Ismail I Matalka
- RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates; Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
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8
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Wang J, Zhang Q, Fu H, Han Y, Li X, Zou Q, Yuan S, Sun L. ASCT2 Regulates Fatty Acid Metabolism to Trigger Glutamine Addiction in Basal-like Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:3028. [PMID: 39272886 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16173028] [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: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
As a crucial amino acid, glutamine can provide the nitrogen and carbon sources needed to support cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Interestingly, different types of breast cancer have different dependences on glutamine. This research shows that basal-like breast cancer depends on glutamine, while the other types of breast cancer may be more dependent on glucose. Glutamine transporter ASCT2 is highly expressed in various cancers and significantly promotes the growth of breast cancer. However, the key regulatory mechanism of ASCT2 in promoting basal-like breast cancer progression remains unclear. Our research demonstrates the significant change in fatty acid levels caused by ASCT2, which may be a key factor in glutamine sensitivity. This phenomenon results from the mutual activation between ASCT2-mediated glutamine transport and lipid metabolism via the nuclear receptor PPARα. ASCT2 cooperatively promoted PPARα expression, leading to the upregulation of lipid metabolism. Moreover, we also found that C118P could inhibit lipid metabolism by targeting ASCT2. More importantly, this research identifies a potential avenue of evidence for the prevention and early intervention of basal-like breast cancer by blocking the glutamine-lipid feedback loop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wang
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Huaizi Fu
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yi Han
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xue Li
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qianlin Zou
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Shengtao Yuan
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Li Sun
- New Drug Screening and Pharmacodynamics Evaluation Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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Gubser PM, Wijesinghe S, Heyden L, Gabriel SS, de Souza DP, Hess C, McConville MM, Utzschneider DT, Kallies A. Aerobic glycolysis but not GLS1-dependent glutamine metabolism is critical for anti-tumor immunity and response to checkpoint inhibition. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114632. [PMID: 39159042 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114632] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells undergo uncontrolled proliferation driven by enhanced anabolic metabolism including glycolysis and glutaminolysis. Targeting these pathways to inhibit cancer growth is a strategy for cancer treatment. Critically, however, tumor-responsive T cells share metabolic features with cancer cells, making them susceptible to these treatments as well. Here, we assess the impact on anti-tumor T cell immunity and T cell exhaustion by genetic ablation of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and glutaminase1 (GLS1), key enzymes in aerobic glycolysis and glutaminolysis. Loss of LDHA severely impairs expansion of T cells in response to tumors and chronic infection. In contrast, T cells lacking GLS1 can compensate for impaired glutaminolysis by engaging alternative pathways, including upregulation of asparagine synthetase, and thus efficiently respond to tumor challenge and chronic infection as well as immune checkpoint blockade. Targeting GLS1-dependent glutaminolysis, but not aerobic glycolysis, may therefore be a successful strategy in cancer treatment, particularly in combination with immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Gubser
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sharanya Wijesinghe
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Leonie Heyden
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah S Gabriel
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - David P de Souza
- Metabolomics Australia, Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Christoph Hess
- Department of Biomedicine, Immunobiology, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Medicine, CITIID, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Malcolm M McConville
- Metabolomics Australia, Bio21 Molecular Science & Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Daniel T Utzschneider
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Axel Kallies
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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Erb HHH, Polishchuk N, Stasyk O, Kahya U, Weigel MM, Dubrovska A. Glutamine Metabolism and Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2871. [PMID: 39199642 PMCID: PMC11352381 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16162871] [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: 06/29/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Glutamine (Gln) is a non-essential amino acid that is involved in the development and progression of several malignancies, including prostate cancer (PCa). While Gln is non-essential for non-malignant prostate epithelial cells, PCa cells become highly dependent on an exogenous source of Gln. The Gln metabolism in PCa is tightly controlled by well-described oncogenes such as MYC, AR, and mTOR. These oncogenes contribute to therapy resistance and progression to the aggressive castration-resistant PCa. Inhibition of Gln catabolism impedes PCa growth, survival, and tumor-initiating potential while sensitizing the cells to radiotherapy. Therefore, given its significant role in tumor growth, targeting Gln metabolism is a promising approach for developing new therapeutic strategies. Ongoing clinical trials evaluate the safety and efficacy of Gln catabolism inhibitors in combination with conventional and targeted therapies in patients with various solid tumors, including PCa. Further understanding of how PCa cells metabolically interact with their microenvironment will facilitate the clinical translation of Gln inhibitors and help improve therapeutic outcomes. This review focuses on the role of Gln in PCa progression and therapy resistance and provides insights into current clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger H. H. Erb
- Department of Urology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Nikita Polishchuk
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 79000 Lviv, Ukraine; (N.P.); (O.S.)
| | - Oleh Stasyk
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 79000 Lviv, Ukraine; (N.P.); (O.S.)
| | - Uğur Kahya
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01309 Dresden, Germany; (U.K.); (M.M.W.)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology-OncoRay, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Matthias M. Weigel
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01309 Dresden, Germany; (U.K.); (M.M.W.)
| | - Anna Dubrovska
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01309 Dresden, Germany; (U.K.); (M.M.W.)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology-OncoRay, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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11
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Grobben Y. Targeting amino acid-metabolizing enzymes for cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1440269. [PMID: 39211039 PMCID: PMC11359565 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1440269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the immune system's role in the detection and eradication of abnormal cells, cancer cells often evade elimination by exploitation of various immune escape mechanisms. Among these mechanisms is the ability of cancer cells to upregulate amino acid-metabolizing enzymes, or to induce these enzymes in tumor-infiltrating immunosuppressive cells. Amino acids are fundamental cellular nutrients required for a variety of physiological processes, and their inadequacy can severely impact immune cell function. Amino acid-derived metabolites can additionally dampen the anti-tumor immune response by means of their immunosuppressive activities, whilst some can also promote tumor growth directly. Based on their evident role in tumor immune escape, the amino acid-metabolizing enzymes glutaminase 1 (GLS1), arginase 1 (ARG1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) and interleukin 4 induced 1 (IL4I1) each serve as a promising target for immunotherapeutic intervention. This review summarizes and discusses the involvement of these enzymes in cancer, their effect on the anti-tumor immune response and the recent progress made in the preclinical and clinical evaluation of inhibitors targeting these enzymes.
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Lin H, Wang L, Jiang X, Wang J. Glutathione dynamics in subcellular compartments and implications for drug development. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2024; 81:102505. [PMID: 39053236 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.102505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Glutathione (GSH) is a pivotal tripeptide antioxidant essential for maintaining cellular redox homeostasis and regulating diverse cellular processes. Subcellular compartmentalization of GSH underscores its multifaceted roles across various organelles including the cytosol, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and nucleus, each exhibiting distinct regulatory mechanisms. Perturbations in GSH dynamics contribute to pathophysiological conditions, emphasizing the clinical significance of understanding its intricate regulation. This review consolidates current knowledge on subcellular GSH dynamics, highlighting its implications in drug development, particularly in covalent drug design and antitumor strategies targeting intracellular GSH levels. Challenges and future directions in deciphering subcellular GSH dynamics are discussed, advocating for innovative methodologies to advance our comprehension and facilitate the development of precise therapeutic interventions based on GSH modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanfeng Lin
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for NextGen Therapeutics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lingfei Wang
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xiqian Jiang
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jin Wang
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for NextGen Therapeutics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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13
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Qiu Y, Stamatatos OT, Hu Q, Ruiter Swain J, Russo S, Sann A, Costa ASH, Violante S, Spector DL, Cross JR, Lukey MJ. The unique catalytic properties of PSAT1 mediate metabolic adaptation to glutamine blockade. Nat Metab 2024; 6:1529-1548. [PMID: 39192144 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01104-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Cultured cancer cells frequently rely on the consumption of glutamine and its subsequent hydrolysis by glutaminase (GLS). However, this metabolic addiction can be lost in the tumour microenvironment, rendering GLS inhibitors ineffective in the clinic. Here we show that glutamine-addicted breast cancer cells adapt to chronic glutamine starvation, or GLS inhibition, via AMPK-mediated upregulation of the serine synthesis pathway (SSP). In this context, the key product of the SSP is not serine, but α-ketoglutarate (α-KG). Mechanistically, we find that phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1) has a unique capacity for sustained α-KG production when glutamate is depleted. Breast cancer cells with resistance to glutamine starvation or GLS inhibition are highly dependent on SSP-supplied α-KG. Accordingly, inhibition of the SSP prevents adaptation to glutamine blockade, resulting in a potent drug synergism that suppresses breast tumour growth. These findings highlight how metabolic redundancy can be context dependent, with the catalytic properties of different metabolic enzymes that act on the same substrate determining which pathways can support tumour growth in a particular nutrient environment. This, in turn, has practical consequences for therapies targeting cancer metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijian Qiu
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | | | - Qingting Hu
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
- Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Jed Ruiter Swain
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
- CSHL School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Suzanne Russo
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Ava Sann
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
| | - Ana S H Costa
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
- Matterworks Inc., Somerville, MA, USA
| | - Sara Violante
- Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Cancer Metabolism Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Justin R Cross
- Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Cancer Metabolism Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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Kim M, Hwang S, Jeong SM. Targeting cellular adaptive responses to glutaminolysis perturbation for cancer therapy. Mol Cells 2024; 47:100096. [PMID: 39038517 PMCID: PMC11342766 DOI: 10.1016/j.mocell.2024.100096] [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: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic aberrations, notably deviations in glutamine metabolism, are crucial in the oncogenic process, offering vital resources for the unlimited proliferation and enhanced survival capabilities of cancer cells. The dependency of malignant cells on glutamine metabolism has led to the proposition of targeted therapeutic strategies. However, the capability of cancer cells to initiate adaptive responses undermines the efficacy of these therapeutic interventions. This review meticulously examines the multifaceted adaptive mechanisms that cancer cells deploy to sustain survival and growth following the disruption of glutamine metabolism. Emphasis is placed on the roles of transcription factors, alterations in metabolic pathways, the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling axis, autophagy, macropinocytosis, nucleotide biosynthesis, and the scavenging of ROS. Thus, the delineation and subsequent targeting of these adaptive responses in the context of therapies aimed at glutamine metabolism offer a promising avenue for circumventing drug resistance in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjoong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Aging and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, South Korea
| | - Sunsook Hwang
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Aging and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, South Korea
| | - Seung Min Jeong
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Aging and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, South Korea.
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Kinslow CJ, Ll MB, Cai Y, Yan J, Lorkiewicz PK, Al-Attar A, Tan J, Higashi RM, Lane AN, Fan TWM. Stable isotope-resolved metabolomics analyses of metabolic phenotypes reveal variable glutamine metabolism in different patient-derived models of non-small cell lung cancer from a single patient. Metabolomics 2024; 20:87. [PMID: 39068202 PMCID: PMC11317205 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-024-02126-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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Stable isotope tracers have been increasingly used in preclinical cancer model systems, including cell culture and mouse xenografts, to probe the altered metabolism of a variety of cancers, such as accelerated glycolysis and glutaminolysis and generation of oncometabolites. Comparatively little has been reported on the fidelity of the different preclinical model systems in recapitulating the aberrant metabolism of tumors. OBJECTIVES We have been developing several different experimental model systems for systems biochemistry analyses of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC1) using patient-derived tissues to evaluate appropriate models for metabolic and phenotypic analyses. METHODS To address the issue of fidelity, we have carried out a detailed Stable Isotope-Resolved Metabolomics study of freshly resected tissue slices, mouse patient derived xenografts (PDXs), and cells derived from a single patient using both 13C6-glucose and 13C5,15N2-glutamine tracers. RESULTS Although we found similar glucose metabolism in the three models, glutamine utilization was markedly higher in the isolated cell culture and in cell culture-derived xenografts compared with the primary cancer tissue or direct tissue xenografts (PDX). CONCLUSIONS This suggests that caution is needed in interpreting cancer biochemistry using patient-derived cancer cells in vitro or in xenografts, even at very early passage, and that direct analysis of patient derived tissue slices provides the optimal model for ex vivo metabolomics. Further research is needed to determine the generality of these observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor J Kinslow
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and NewYork-Presbyterian, 622 West 168th Street, BNH B-11, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Michael Bousamra Ll
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- AMG Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates SE MI, 22201 Moross Rd. #352, Detroit, MI, 48236, USA
| | - Yihua Cai
- Immuno-Oncology Program, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- Center for Cellular Engineering, Department of Transfusion Medicine, NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jun Yan
- Immuno-Oncology Program, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- Division of Immunotherapy, The Hiram C. Polk, Jr., MD Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Pawel K Lorkiewicz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Ahmad Al-Attar
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
- Dept. Pathology, U. Mass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jinlian Tan
- The Department of Oral Immunology and Infection Disease, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, 501 South Preston, St. Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Richard M Higashi
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Andrew N Lane
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
| | - Teresa W-M Fan
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
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Ou LP, Liu YJ, Qiu ST, Yang C, Tang JX, Li XY, Liu HF, Ye ZN. Glutaminolysis is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Kidney Diseases. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2024; 17:2789-2807. [PMID: 39072347 PMCID: PMC11283263 DOI: 10.2147/dmso.s471711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming contributes to the progression and prognosis of various kidney diseases. Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in the body and participates in more metabolic processes than other amino acids. Altered glutamine metabolism is a prominent feature in different kidney diseases. Glutaminolysis converts glutamine into the TCA cycle metabolite, alpha-ketoglutarate, via a cascade of enzymatic reactions. This metabolic pathway plays pivotal roles in inflammation, maladaptive repair, cell survival and proliferation, redox homeostasis, and immune regulation. Given the crucial role of glutaminolysis in bioenergetics and anaplerotic fluxes in kidney pathogenesis, studies on this cascade could provide a better understanding of kidney diseases, thus inspiring the development of potential methods for targeted therapy. Emerging evidence has shown that targeting glutaminolysis is a promising therapeutic strategy for ameliorating kidney disease. In this narrative review, equation including keywords related to glutamine, glutaminolysis and kidney are subjected to an exhaustive search on Pubmed database, we identified all relevant articles published before 1 April, 2024. Afterwards, we summarize the regulation of glutaminolysis in major kidney diseases and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight therapeutic strategies targeting glutaminolysis and their potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ping Ou
- Institute of Nephrology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yong-Jian Liu
- Institute of Nephrology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shi-Tong Qiu
- Institute of Nephrology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chen Yang
- Institute of Nephrology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ji-Xin Tang
- Institute of Nephrology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Yu Li
- Institute of Nephrology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hua-Feng Liu
- Institute of Nephrology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Nan Ye
- Institute of Nephrology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang City, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, People’s Republic of China
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Xiao C, Li Y, Liu Y, Dong R, He X, Lin Q, Zang X, Wang K, Xia Y, Kong L. Overcoming Cancer Persister Cells by Stabilizing the ATF4 Promoter G-quadruplex. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2401748. [PMID: 38994891 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202401748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Persister cells (PS) selected for anticancer therapy have been recognized as a significant contributor to the development of treatment-resistant malignancies. It is found that imposing glutamine restriction induces the generation of PS, which paradoxically bestows heightened resistance to glutamine restriction treatment by activating the integrated stress response and initiating the general control nonderepressible 2-activating transcription factor 4-alanine, serine, cysteine-preferring transporter 2 (GCN2-ATF4-ASCT2) axis. Central to this phenomenon is the stress-induced ATF4 translational reprogramming. Unfortunately, directly targeting ATF4 protein has proven to be a formidable challenge because of its flat surface. Nonetheless, a G-quadruplex structure located within the promoter region of ATF4 (ATF4-G4) is uncovered and resolved, which functions as a transcriptional regulator and can be targeted by small molecules. The investigation identifies the natural compound coptisine (COP) as a potent binder that interacts with and stabilizes ATF4-G4. For the first time, the high-resolution structure of the COP-ATF4-G4 complex is determined. The formation of this stable complex disrupts the interaction between transcription factor AP-2 alpha (TFAP2A) and ATF4-G4, resulting in a substantial reduction in intracellular ATF4 levels and the eventual death of cancer cells. These seminal findings underscore the potential of targeting the ATF4-G4 structure to yield significant therapeutic advantages within the realm of persister cancer cells induced by glutamine-restricted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengmei Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yipu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yushuang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Ruifang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xiaoyu He
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Qing Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xin Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Kaibo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yuanzheng Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Shenzhen, 518057, China
| | - Lingyi Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
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Wang Y, He J, Lian S, Zeng Y, He S, Xu J, Luo L, Yang W, Jiang J. Targeting Metabolic-Redox Nexus to Regulate Drug Resistance: From Mechanism to Tumor Therapy. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:828. [PMID: 39061897 PMCID: PMC11273443 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13070828] [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: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance is currently one of the biggest challenges in cancer treatment. With the deepening understanding of drug resistance, various mechanisms have been revealed, including metabolic reprogramming and alterations of redox balance. Notably, metabolic reprogramming mediates the survival of tumor cells in harsh environments, thereby promoting the development of drug resistance. In addition, the changes during metabolic pattern shift trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which in turn regulates cellular metabolism, DNA repair, cell death, and drug metabolism in direct or indirect ways to influence the sensitivity of tumors to therapies. Therefore, the intersection of metabolism and ROS profoundly affects tumor drug resistance, and clarifying the entangled mechanisms may be beneficial for developing drugs and treatment methods to thwart drug resistance. In this review, we will summarize the regulatory mechanism of redox and metabolism on tumor drug resistance and highlight recent therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic-redox circuits, including dietary interventions, novel chemosynthetic drugs, drug combination regimens, and novel drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuke Wang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.W.); (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.Z.); (S.H.); (J.X.)
| | - Jingqiu He
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.W.); (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.Z.); (S.H.); (J.X.)
| | - Shan Lian
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.W.); (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.Z.); (S.H.); (J.X.)
| | - Yan Zeng
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.W.); (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.Z.); (S.H.); (J.X.)
| | - Sheng He
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.W.); (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.Z.); (S.H.); (J.X.)
| | - Jue Xu
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.W.); (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.Z.); (S.H.); (J.X.)
| | - Li Luo
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China;
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wenyong Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Research Center, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chong-Qing Medical University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jingwen Jiang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.W.); (J.H.); (S.L.); (Y.Z.); (S.H.); (J.X.)
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19
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Wu G, Li T, Chen Y, Ye S, Zhou S, Tian X, Anwaier A, Zhu S, Xu W, Hao X, Ye D, Zhang H. Deciphering glutamine metabolism patterns for malignancy and tumor microenvironment in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:152. [PMID: 38970690 PMCID: PMC11227463 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01390-4] [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: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of kidney cancer characterized by metabolic reprogramming. Glutamine metabolism is pivotal in metabolic reprogramming, contributing to the significant heterogeneity observed in ccRCC. Consequently, developing prognostic markers associated with glutamine metabolism could enhance personalized treatment strategies for ccRCC patients. This study obtained RNA sequencing and clinical data from 763 ccRCC cases sourced from multiple databases. Consensus clustering of 74 glutamine metabolism related genes (GMRGs)- profiles stratified the patients into three clusters, each of which exhibited distinct prognosis, tumor microenvironment, and biological characteristics. Then, six genes (SMTNL2, MIOX, TMEM27, SLC16A12, HRH2, and SAA1) were identified by machine-learning algorithms to develop a predictive signature related to glutamine metabolism, termed as GMRScore. The GMRScore showed significant differences in clinical prognosis, expression profile of immune checkpoints, abundance of immune cells, and immunotherapy response of ccRCC patients. Besides, the nomogram incorporating the GMRScore and clinical features showed strong predictive performance in prognosis of ccRCC patients. ALDH18A1, one of the GRMGs, exhibited elevated expression level in ccRCC and was related to markedly poorer prognosis in the integrated cohort, validated by proteomic profiling of 232 ccRCC samples from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC). Conducting western blotting, CCK-8, transwell, and flow cytometry assays, we found the knockdown of ALDH18A1 in ccRCC significantly promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in two human ccRCC cell lines (786-O and 769-P). In conclusion, we developed a glutamine metabolism-related prognostic signature in ccRCC, which is tightly linked to the tumor immune microenvironment and immunotherapy response, potentially facilitating precision therapy for ccRCC patients. Additionally, this study revealed the key role of ALDH18A1 in promoting ccRCC progression for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengrun Wu
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Teng Li
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Taian City Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Taian, 271000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanbiao Chen
- Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiqi Ye
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Siqi Zhou
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Tian
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Aihetaimujiang Anwaier
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuxuan Zhu
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhao Xu
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaohang Hao
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Taian City Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Taian, 271000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Dingwei Ye
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hailiang Zhang
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Adamoski D, M Dos Reis L, Mafra ACP, Corrêa-da-Silva F, Moraes-Vieira PMMD, Berindan-Neagoe I, Calin GA, Dias SMG. HuR controls glutaminase RNA metabolism. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5620. [PMID: 38965208 PMCID: PMC11224379 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49874-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: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Glutaminase (GLS) is directly related to cell growth and tumor progression, making it a target for cancer treatment. The RNA-binding protein HuR (encoded by the ELAVL1 gene) influences mRNA stability and alternative splicing. Overexpression of ELAVL1 is common in several cancers, including breast cancer. Here we show that HuR regulates GLS mRNA alternative splicing and isoform translation/stability in breast cancer. Elevated ELAVL1 expression correlates with high levels of the glutaminase isoforms C (GAC) and kidney-type (KGA), which are associated with poor patient prognosis. Knocking down ELAVL1 reduces KGA and increases GAC levels, enhances glutamine anaplerosis into the TCA cycle, and drives cells towards glutamine dependence. Furthermore, we show that combining chemical inhibition of GLS with ELAVL1 silencing synergistically decreases breast cancer cell growth and invasion. These findings suggest that dual inhibition of GLS and HuR offers a therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Adamoski
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Larissa M Dos Reis
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology, and Immunology, Laboratory of Immunometabolism, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Paschoalini Mafra
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, S. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Felipe Corrêa-da-Silva
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology, and Immunology, Laboratory of Immunometabolism, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Pedro Manoel Mendes de Moraes-Vieira
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology, and Immunology, Laboratory of Immunometabolism, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu-Hatieganu", Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - George A Calin
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for RNA Inference and Non-Coding RNAs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sandra Martha Gomes Dias
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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21
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Zhang J, Chen M, Yang Y, Liu Z, Guo W, Xiang P, Zeng Z, Wang D, Xiong W. Amino acid metabolic reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment and its implication for cancer therapy. J Cell Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38946173 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31349] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Amino acids are essential building blocks for proteins, crucial energy sources for cell survival, and key signaling molecules supporting the resistant growth of tumor cells. In tumor cells, amino acid metabolic reprogramming is characterized by the enhanced uptake of amino acids as well as their aberrant synthesis, breakdown, and transport, leading to immune evasion and malignant progression of tumor cells. This article reviews the altered amino acid metabolism in tumor cells and its impact on tumor microenvironment, and also provides an overview of the current clinical applications of amino acid metabolism. Innovative drugs targeting amino acid metabolism hold great promise for precision and personalized cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiarong Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mingjian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuxin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ziqi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wanni Guo
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Pingjuan Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhaoyang Zeng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dan Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
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22
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Kumar M, Leekha A, Nandy S, Kulkarni R, Martinez-Paniagua M, Rahman Sefat KMS, Willson RC, Varadarajan N. Enzymatic depletion of circulating glutamine is immunosuppressive in cancers. iScience 2024; 27:109817. [PMID: 38770139 PMCID: PMC11103382 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Although glutamine addiction in cancer cells is extensively reported, there is controversy on the impact of glutamine metabolism on the immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). To address the role of extracellular glutamine, we enzymatically depleted circulating glutamine using PEGylated Helicobacter pylori gamma-glutamyl transferase (PEG-GGT) in syngeneic mouse models of breast and colon cancers. PEG-GGT treatment inhibits growth of cancer cells in vitro, but in vivo it increases myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and has no significant impact on tumor growth. By deriving a glutamine depletion signature, we analyze diverse human cancers within the TCGA and illustrate that glutamine depletion is not associated with favorable clinical outcomes and correlates with accumulation of MDSC. Broadly, our results help clarify the integrated impact of glutamine depletion within the TME and advance PEG-GGT as an enzymatic tool for the systemic and selective depletion (no asparaginase activity) of circulating glutamine in live animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monish Kumar
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Ankita Leekha
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Suman Nandy
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Rohan Kulkarni
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Melisa Martinez-Paniagua
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - K. M. Samiur Rahman Sefat
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Richard C. Willson
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Navin Varadarajan
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
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23
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Wu J, Liu N, Chen J, Tao Q, Li Q, Li J, Chen X, Peng C. The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Metabolites for Cancer: Friend or Enemy. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2024; 7:0351. [PMID: 38867720 PMCID: PMC11168306 DOI: 10.34133/research.0351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is capable of providing sufficient energy for the physiological activities under aerobic conditions. Although tumor metabolic reprogramming places aerobic glycolysis in a dominant position, the TCA cycle remains indispensable for tumor cells as a hub for the metabolic linkage and interconversion of glucose, lipids, and certain amino acids. TCA intermediates such as citrate, α-ketoglutarate, succinate, and fumarate are altered in tumors, and they regulate the tumor metabolism, signal transduction, and immune environment to affect tumorigenesis and tumor progression. This article provides a comprehensive review of the modifications occurring in tumor cells in relation to the intermediates of the TCA cycle, which affects tumor pathogenesis and current therapeutic strategy for therapy through targeting TCA cycle in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wu
- The Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Labratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Nian Liu
- The Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Labratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Chen
- The Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Labratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qian Tao
- The Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Labratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qiuqiu Li
- The Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Labratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jie Li
- The Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Labratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- The Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Labratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Cong Peng
- The Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Furong Labratory, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital,
Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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24
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Beier AMK, Ebersbach C, Siciliano T, Scholze J, Hofmann J, Hönscheid P, Baretton GB, Woods K, Guezguez B, Dubrovska A, Markowitsch SD, Thomas C, Puhr M, Erb HHH. Targeting the glutamine metabolism to suppress cell proliferation in mesenchymal docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer. Oncogene 2024; 43:2038-2050. [PMID: 38750263 PMCID: PMC11196217 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03059-4] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Docetaxel (DX) serves as a palliative treatment option for metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Despite initial remission, acquired DX resistance is inevitable. The mechanisms behind DX resistance have not yet been deciphered, but a mesenchymal phenotype is associated with DX resistance. Mesenchymal phenotypes have been linked to metabolic rewiring, obtaining most ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) powered substantially by glutamine (Gln). Likewise, Gln is known to play an essential role in modulating bioenergetic, redox homeostasis and autophagy. Herein, investigations of Gln deprivation on DX-sensitive and -resistant (DR) PCa cells revealed that the DR cell sub-lines were susceptible to Gln deprivation. Mechanistically, Gln deprivation reduced OXPHOS and ATP levels, causing a disturbance in cell cycle progression. Genetic and chemical inhibition of the Gln-metabolism key protein GLS1 could validate the Gln deprivation results, thereby representing a valid therapeutic target. Moreover, immunohistological investigation of GLS1 revealed a high-expressing GLS1 subgroup post-docetaxel failure, exhibiting low overall survival. This subgroup presents an intriguing opportunity for targeted therapy focusing on glutamine metabolism. Thus, these findings highlight a possible clinical rationale for the chemical inhibition of GLS1 as a therapeutic strategy to target mesenchymal DR PCa cells, thereby delaying accelerated tumour progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Celina Ebersbach
- Department of Urology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tiziana Siciliano
- Department of Urology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jana Scholze
- Department of Urology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jörg Hofmann
- Department of Urology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Pia Hönscheid
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gustavo B Baretton
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kevin Woods
- IIIrd Department of Medicine - Hematology & Oncology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Borhane Guezguez
- IIIrd Department of Medicine - Hematology & Oncology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Dubrovska
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology-OncoRay, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Dresden, Germany
| | - Sascha D Markowitsch
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Christian Thomas
- Department of Urology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Puhr
- Medical University of Innsbruck, Department of Urology, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Holger H H Erb
- Department of Urology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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25
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Miyamoto R, Takigawa H, Yuge R, Shimizu D, Ariyoshi M, Otani R, Tsuboi A, Tanaka H, Yamashita K, Hiyama Y, Urabe Y, Ishikawa A, Sentani K, Oka S. Analysis of anti-tumor effect and mechanism of GLS1 inhibitor CB-839 in colorectal cancer using a stroma-abundant tumor model. Exp Mol Pathol 2024; 137:104896. [PMID: 38703552 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2024.104896] [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: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutaminase 1 (GLS1), a key enzyme in glutamine metabolism in cancer cells, acts as a tumor promoter and could be a potential therapeutic target. CB-839, a GLS1-specific inhibitor, was developed recently. Herein, we aimed to elucidate the anti-tumor effects and mechanism of action of CB-839 in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS Using the UCSC Xena public database, we evaluated GLS1 expression in various cancers. Immunostaining for GLS1 was performed on 154 surgically resected human CRC specimens. Subsequently, we examined the GLS1 mRNA expression levels in eight CRC cell lines and evaluated the association between GLS1 expression and CB-839 efficacy. To create a reproducible CRC model with abundant stroma and an allogeneic immune response, we co-transplanted CT26 and stem cells into BALB/c mice and treated them with CB-839. Finally, RNA sequencing of mouse tumors was performed. RESULTS Database analysis showed higher GLS1 expression in CRC tissues than in normal colon tissues. Clinical samples from 114 of the 154 patients with CRC showed positive GLS1 expression. GLS1 expression in clinical CRC tissues correlated with vascular invasion. CB-839 treatment inhibited cancer cell proliferation depending on GLS1 expression in vitro and inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in the CRC mouse model. RNA sequencing revealed that CB-839 treatment inhibited stromal activation, tumor growth, migration, and angiogenesis. These findings were validated through in vitro and in vivo experiments and clinical specimen analysis. CONCLUSIONS GLS1 expression in CRC plays important roles in tumor progression. CB-839 has inhibitory effects on cancer proliferation and the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Miyamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hidehiko Takigawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
| | - Ryo Yuge
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Daisuke Shimizu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Misa Ariyoshi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Rina Otani
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Tsuboi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hidenori Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Ken Yamashita
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuichi Hiyama
- Clinical Research Center in Hiroshima, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuji Urabe
- Department of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Akira Ishikawa
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Sentani
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shiro Oka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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26
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Han J, Dong H, Zhu T, Wei Q, Wang Y, Wang Y, Lv Y, Mu H, Huang S, Zeng K, Xu J, Ding J. Biochemical hallmarks-targeting antineoplastic nanotherapeutics. Bioact Mater 2024; 36:427-454. [PMID: 39044728 PMCID: PMC11263727 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.05.042] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironments (TMEs) have received increasing attention in recent years as they play pivotal roles in tumorigenesis, progression, metastases, and resistance to the traditional modalities of cancer therapy like chemotherapy. With the rapid development of nanotechnology, effective antineoplastic nanotherapeutics targeting the aberrant hallmarks of TMEs have been proposed. The appropriate design and fabrication endow nanomedicines with the abilities for active targeting, TMEs-responsiveness, and optimization of physicochemical properties of tumors, thereby overcoming transport barriers and significantly improving antineoplastic therapeutic benefits. This review begins with the origins and characteristics of TMEs and discusses the latest strategies for modulating the TMEs by focusing on the regulation of biochemical microenvironments, such as tumor acidosis, hypoxia, and dysregulated metabolism. Finally, this review summarizes the challenges in the development of smart anti-cancer nanotherapeutics for TME modulation and examines the promising strategies for combination therapies with traditional treatments for further clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Han
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 100 Haining Street, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - He Dong
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 100 Haining Street, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Tianyi Zhu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 100 Haining Street, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Qi Wei
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130022, PR China
| | - Yongheng Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 100 Haining Street, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Yu Lv
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 100 Haining Street, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Haoran Mu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 100 Haining Street, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Shandeng Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 100 Haining Street, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Ke Zeng
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 100 Haining Street, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, 100 Haining Street, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Jianxun Ding
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130022, PR China
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27
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Hilovsky D, Hartsell J, Young JD, Liu X. Stable Isotope Tracing Analysis in Cancer Research: Advancements and Challenges in Identifying Dysregulated Cancer Metabolism and Treatment Strategies. Metabolites 2024; 14:318. [PMID: 38921453 PMCID: PMC11205609 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14060318] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, driving the development of therapies targeting cancer metabolism. Stable isotope tracing has emerged as a widely adopted tool for monitoring cancer metabolism both in vitro and in vivo. Advances in instrumentation and the development of new tracers, metabolite databases, and data analysis tools have expanded the scope of cancer metabolism studies across these scales. In this review, we explore the latest advancements in metabolic analysis, spanning from experimental design in stable isotope-labeling metabolomics to sophisticated data analysis techniques. We highlight successful applications in cancer research, particularly focusing on ongoing clinical trials utilizing stable isotope tracing to characterize disease progression, treatment responses, and potential mechanisms of resistance to anticancer therapies. Furthermore, we outline key challenges and discuss potential strategies to address them, aiming to enhance our understanding of the biochemical basis of cancer metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalton Hilovsky
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (D.H.); (J.H.)
| | - Joshua Hartsell
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (D.H.); (J.H.)
| | - Jamey D. Young
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | - Xiaojing Liu
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (D.H.); (J.H.)
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28
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Ruan X, Yan W, Cao M, Daza RAM, Fong MY, Yang K, Wu J, Liu X, Palomares M, Wu X, Li A, Chen Y, Jandial R, Spitzer NC, Hevner RF, Wang SE. Breast cancer cell-secreted miR-199b-5p hijacks neurometabolic coupling to promote brain metastasis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4549. [PMID: 38811525 PMCID: PMC11137082 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48740-0] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer metastasis to the brain is a clinical challenge rising in prevalence. However, the underlying mechanisms, especially how cancer cells adapt a distant brain niche to facilitate colonization, remain poorly understood. A unique metabolic feature of the brain is the coupling between neurons and astrocytes through glutamate, glutamine, and lactate. Here we show that extracellular vesicles from breast cancer cells with a high potential to develop brain metastases carry high levels of miR-199b-5p, which shows higher levels in the blood of breast cancer patients with brain metastases comparing to those with metastatic cancer in other organs. miR-199b-5p targets solute carrier transporters (SLC1A2/EAAT2 in astrocytes and SLC38A2/SNAT2 and SLC16A7/MCT2 in neurons) to hijack the neuron-astrocyte metabolic coupling, leading to extracellular retention of these metabolites and promoting cancer cell growth. Our findings reveal a mechanism through which cancer cells of a non-brain origin reprogram neural metabolism to fuel brain metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianhui Ruan
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Minghui Cao
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ray Anthony M Daza
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Miranda Y Fong
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Kaifu Yang
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jun Wu
- Center for Comparative Medicine, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Xuxiang Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA, USA
| | | | - Xiwei Wu
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Arthur Li
- Division of Biostatistics, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Yuan Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rahul Jandial
- Department of Surgery; City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas C Spitzer
- Neurobiology Department, School of Biological Sciences and Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert F Hevner
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shizhen Emily Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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29
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Huang Y, Meng F, Zeng T, Thorne RF, He L, Zha Q, Li H, Liu H, Lang C, Xiong W, Pan S, Yin D, Wu M, Sun X, Liu L. IFRD1 promotes tumor cells "low-cost" survival under glutamine starvation via inhibiting histone H1.0 nucleophagy. Cell Discov 2024; 10:57. [PMID: 38802351 PMCID: PMC11130292 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-024-00668-x] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Glutamine addiction represents a metabolic vulnerability of cancer cells; however, effective therapeutic targeting of the pathways involved remains to be realized. Here, we disclose the critical role of interferon-related developmental regulator 1 (IFRD1) in the adaptive survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells during glutamine starvation. IFRD1 is induced under glutamine starvation to inhibit autophagy by promoting the proteasomal degradation of the key autophagy regulator ATG14 in a TRIM21-dependent manner. Conversely, targeting IFRD1 in the glutamine-deprived state increases autophagy flux, triggering cancer cell exhaustive death. This effect largely results from the nucleophilic degradation of histone H1.0 and the ensuing unchecked increases in ribosome and protein biosynthesis associated with globally enhanced chromatin accessibility. Intriguingly, IFRD1 depletion in preclinical HCC models synergizes with the treatment of the glutaminase-1 selective inhibitor CB-839 to potentiate the effect of limiting glutamine. Together, our findings reveal how IFRD1 supports the adaptive survival of cancer cells under glutamine starvation, further highlighting the potential of IFRD1 as a therapeutic target in anti-cancer applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yabin Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fanzheng Meng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Taofei Zeng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Rick Francis Thorne
- Translational Research Institute of People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lifang He
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qingrui Zha
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hairui Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chuandong Lang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wanxiang Xiong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Shixiang Pan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Dalong Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Mian Wu
- Translational Research Institute of People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Xuedan Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Lianxin Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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30
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Sarkarai Nadar V, Yoshinaga-Sakurai K, Rosen BP. Anticancer Effects of the Trivalent Organoarsenical 2-Amino-4-(dihydroxyarsinoyl) Butanoate. Organometallics 2024; 43:1137-1142. [PMID: 38817537 PMCID: PMC11134607 DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.4c00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women. The lack of progesterone and estrogen receptors in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells results in a lack of response to hormonal, monoclonal, or tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapies. Despite intensive drug discovery, there is still no approved targeted treatment for TNBC. The metalloid arsenic has been used in herbal medicines, antibiotics, and chemotherapeutic drugs for centuries. This paper demonstrates that a trivalent arsenic-containing, nonproteogenic amino acid, R-AST-OH (2-amino-4-(dihydroxyarsinoyl) butanoate), inhibits kidney-type glutaminase (KGA), the enzyme that controls glutamine metabolism and is correlated with tumor malignancy. Cell-based assays using the TNBC MDA-MB-231 and HCC1569 cell lines showed that R-AST-OH kills TNBC cells and is not cytotoxic to a control cell line. The results of in silico molecular docking predictions indicate that R-AST-OH binds to the glutamine binding site and forms a covalent bond with an active site cysteine residue. We hypothesize that R-AST-OH is a single warhead for KGA that irreversibly binds to KGA through the formation of an As-S bond. We propose that R-AST-OH is a promising lead compound for the design of new drugs for the treatment of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkadesh Sarkarai Nadar
- Department of Cellular and Molecular
Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Kunie Yoshinaga-Sakurai
- Department of Cellular and Molecular
Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
| | - Barry P. Rosen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular
Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, United States
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31
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Holbert CE, Casero RA, Stewart TM. Polyamines: the pivotal amines in influencing the tumor microenvironment. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:173. [PMID: 38761252 PMCID: PMC11102423 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01034-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular proliferation, function and survival is reliant upon maintaining appropriate intracellular polyamine levels. Due to increased metabolic needs, cancer cells elevate their polyamine pools through coordinated metabolism and uptake. High levels of polyamines have been linked to more immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TME) as polyamines support the growth and function of many immunosuppressive cell types such as MDSCs, macrophages and regulatory T-cells. As cancer cells and other pro-tumorigenic cell types are highly dependent on polyamines for survival, pharmacological modulation of polyamine metabolism is a promising cancer therapeutic strategy. This review covers the roles of polyamines in various cell types of the TME including both immune and stromal cells, as well as how competition for nutrients, namely polyamine precursors, influences the cellular landscape of the TME. It also details the use of polyamines as biomarkers and the ways in which polyamine depletion can increase the immunogenicity of the TME and reprogram tumors to become more responsive to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra E Holbert
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert A Casero
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tracy Murray Stewart
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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32
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Cherfan C, Chebly A, Rezvani HR, Beylot-Barry M, Chevret E. Delving into the Metabolism of Sézary Cells: A Brief Review. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:635. [PMID: 38790264 PMCID: PMC11121102 DOI: 10.3390/genes15050635] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Primary cutaneous lymphomas (PCLs) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders caused by the accumulation of neoplastic T or B lymphocytes in the skin. Sézary syndrome (SS) is an aggressive and rare form of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) characterized by an erythroderma and the presence of atypical cerebriform T cells named Sézary cells in skin and blood. Most of the available treatments for SS are not curative, which means there is an urgent need for the development of novel efficient therapies. Recently, targeting cancer metabolism has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. This is due to the accumulating evidence that metabolic reprogramming highly contributes to tumor progression. Genes play a pivotal role in regulating metabolic processes, and alterations in these genes can disrupt the delicate balance of metabolic pathways, potentially contributing to cancer development. In this review, we discuss the importance of targeting energy metabolism in tumors and the currently available data on the metabolism of Sézary cells, paving the way for potential new therapeutic approaches aiming to improve clinical outcomes for patients suffering from SS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carel Cherfan
- BRIC, BoRdeaux Institute of onCology, UMR 1312, Inserm, Université de Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France; (C.C.); (H.R.R.); (M.B.-B.)
| | - Alain Chebly
- Center Jacques Loiselet for Medical Genetics and Genomics (CGGM), Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut P.O. Box 17-5208, Lebanon;
| | - Hamid Reza Rezvani
- BRIC, BoRdeaux Institute of onCology, UMR 1312, Inserm, Université de Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France; (C.C.); (H.R.R.); (M.B.-B.)
| | - Marie Beylot-Barry
- BRIC, BoRdeaux Institute of onCology, UMR 1312, Inserm, Université de Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France; (C.C.); (H.R.R.); (M.B.-B.)
- Dermatology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, 33075 Bordeaux, France
| | - Edith Chevret
- BRIC, BoRdeaux Institute of onCology, UMR 1312, Inserm, Université de Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France; (C.C.); (H.R.R.); (M.B.-B.)
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33
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Usart M, Hansen N, Stetka J, Almeida Fonseca T, Guy A, Kimmerlin Q, Rai S, Hao-Shen H, Roux J, Dirnhofer S, Skoda RC. The glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 targets metabolic dependencies of JAK2-mutant hematopoiesis in MPN. Blood Adv 2024; 8:2312-2325. [PMID: 38295283 PMCID: PMC11117009 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023010950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Hyperproliferation of myeloid and erythroid cells in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) driven by the JAK2-V617F mutation is associated with altered metabolism. Given the central role of glutamine in anabolic and catabolic pathways, we examined the effects of pharmacologically inhibiting glutaminolysis, that is, the conversion of glutamine (Gln) to glutamate (Glu), using CB-839, a small molecular inhibitor of the enzyme glutaminase (GLS). We show that CB-839 strongly reduced the mitochondrial respiration rate of bone marrow cells from JAK2-V617F mutant (VF) mice, demonstrating a marked dependence of these cells on Gln-derived ATP production. Consistently, in vivo treatment with CB-839 normalized blood glucose levels, reduced splenomegaly and decreased erythrocytosis in VF mice. These effects were more pronounced when CB-839 was combined with the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib or the glycolysis inhibitor 3PO, indicating possible synergies when cotargeting different metabolic and oncogenic pathways. Furthermore, we show that the inhibition of glutaminolysis with CB-839 preferentially lowered the proportion of JAK2-mutant hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The total number of HSCs was decreased by CB-839, primarily by reducing HSCs in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. CB-839 in combination with ruxolitinib also strongly reduced myelofibrosis at later stages of MPN. In line with the effects shown in mice, proliferation of CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from polycythemia vera patients was inhibited by CB-839 at nanomolar concentrations. These data suggest that inhibiting GLS alone or in combination with inhibitors of glycolysis or JAK2 inhibitors represents an attractive new therapeutic approach to MPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Usart
- Experimental Hematology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nils Hansen
- Experimental Hematology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jan Stetka
- Experimental Hematology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tiago Almeida Fonseca
- Experimental Hematology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Guy
- Experimental Hematology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- UMR1034, Inserm, Biology of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Quentin Kimmerlin
- Experimental Hematology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shivam Rai
- Experimental Hematology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hui Hao-Shen
- Experimental Hematology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Julien Roux
- Bioinformatics core facility, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Dirnhofer
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Radek C. Skoda
- Experimental Hematology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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34
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Bel’skaya LV, Dyachenko EI. Oxidative Stress in Breast Cancer: A Biochemical Map of Reactive Oxygen Species Production. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:4646-4687. [PMID: 38785550 PMCID: PMC11120394 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46050282] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This review systematizes information about the metabolic features of breast cancer directly related to oxidative stress. It has been shown those redox changes occur at all levels and affect many regulatory systems in the human body. The features of the biochemical processes occurring in breast cancer are described, ranging from nonspecific, at first glance, and strictly biochemical to hormone-induced reactions, genetic and epigenetic regulation, which allows for a broader and deeper understanding of the principles of oncogenesis, as well as maintaining the viability of cancer cells in the mammary gland. Specific pathways of the activation of oxidative stress have been studied as a response to the overproduction of stress hormones and estrogens, and specific ways to reduce its negative impact have been described. The diversity of participants that trigger redox reactions from different sides is considered more fully: glycolytic activity in breast cancer, and the nature of consumption of amino acids and metals. The role of metals in oxidative stress is discussed in detail. They can act as both co-factors and direct participants in oxidative stress, since they are either a trigger mechanism for lipid peroxidation or capable of activating signaling pathways that affect tumorigenesis. Special attention has been paid to the genetic and epigenetic regulation of breast tumors. A complex cascade of mechanisms of epigenetic regulation is explained, which made it possible to reconsider the existing opinion about the triggers and pathways for launching the oncological process, the survival of cancer cells and their ability to localize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyudmila V. Bel’skaya
- Biochemistry Research Laboratory, Omsk State Pedagogical University, 644099 Omsk, Russia;
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35
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Free TJ, Talley JP, Hyer CD, Miller CJ, Griffitts JS, Bundy BC. Engineering the Signal Resolution of a Paper-Based Cell-Free Glutamine Biosensor with Genetic Engineering, Metabolic Engineering, and Process Optimization. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:3073. [PMID: 38793927 PMCID: PMC11124800 DOI: 10.3390/s24103073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Specialized cancer treatments have the potential to exploit glutamine dependence to increase patient survival rates. Glutamine diagnostics capable of tracking a patient's response to treatment would enable a personalized treatment dosage to optimize the tradeoff between treatment success and dangerous side effects. Current clinical glutamine testing requires sophisticated and expensive lab-based tests, which are not broadly available on a frequent, individualized basis. To address the need for a low-cost, portable glutamine diagnostic, this work engineers a cell-free glutamine biosensor to overcome assay background and signal-to-noise limitations evident in previously reported studies. The findings from this work culminate in the development of a shelf-stable, paper-based, colorimetric glutamine test with a high signal strength and a high signal-to-background ratio for dramatically improved signal resolution. While the engineered glutamine test is important progress towards improving the management of cancer and other health conditions, this work also expands the assay development field of the promising cell-free biosensing platform, which can facilitate the low-cost detection of a broad variety of target molecules with high clinical value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J. Free
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Joseph P. Talley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Chad D. Hyer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Catherine J. Miller
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Joel S. Griffitts
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Bradley C. Bundy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
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36
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Novotná K, Tenora L, Slusher BS, Rais R. Therapeutic resurgence of 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) through tissue-targeted prodrugs. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2024; 100:157-180. [PMID: 39034051 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The recognition that rapidly proliferating cancer cells rely heavily on glutamine for their survival and growth has renewed interest in the development of glutamine antagonists for cancer therapy. Glutamine plays a pivotal role as a carbon source for synthesizing lipids and metabolites through the TCA cycle, as well as a nitrogen source for synthesis of amino acid and nucleotides. Numerous studies have explored the significance of glutamine metabolism in cancer, providing a robust rationale for targeting this metabolic pathway in cancer treatment. The glutamine antagonist 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) has been explored as an anticancer therapeutic for nearly six decades. Initial investigations revealed remarkable efficacy in preclinical studies and promising outcomes in early clinical trials. However, further advancement of DON was hindered due to dose-limiting gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities as the GI system is highly dependent on glutamine for regulating growth and repair. In an effort to repurpose DON and mitigate gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity concerns, prodrug strategies were utilized. These strategies aimed to enhance the delivery of DON to specific target tissues, such as tumors and the central nervous system (CNS), while sparing DON delivery to normal tissues, particularly the GI tract. When administered at low daily doses, optimized for metabolic inhibition, these prodrugs exhibit remarkable effectiveness without inducing significant toxicity to normal tissues. This approach holds promise for overcoming past challenges associated with DON, offering an avenue for its successful utilization in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Novotná
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i., Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Organic Chemistry, Charles University, Faculty of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Tenora
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Organic Chemistry, Charles University, Faculty of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbara S Slusher
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
| | - Rana Rais
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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37
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Lu HJ, Guo D, Wei QQ. Potential of Neuroinflammation-Modulating Strategies in Tuberculous Meningitis: Targeting Microglia. Aging Dis 2024; 15:1255-1276. [PMID: 37196131 PMCID: PMC11081169 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0311] [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: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe complication of tuberculosis (TB) and is associated with high rates of disability and mortality. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), the infectious agent of TB, disseminates from the respiratory epithelium, breaks through the blood-brain barrier, and establishes a primary infection in the meninges. Microglia are the core of the immune network in the central nervous system (CNS) and interact with glial cells and neurons to fight against harmful pathogens and maintain homeostasis in the brain through pleiotropic functions. However, M. tb directly infects microglia and resides in them as the primary host for bacillus infections. Largely, microglial activation slows disease progression. The non-productive inflammatory response that initiates the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines may be neurotoxic and aggravate tissue injuries based on damages caused by M. tb. Host-directed therapy (HDT) is an emerging strategy for modulating host immune responses against diverse diseases. Recent studies have shown that HDT can control neuroinflammation in TBM and act as an adjunct therapy to antibiotic treatment. In this review, we discuss the diverse roles of microglia in TBM and potential host-directed TB therapies that target microglia to treat TBM. We also discuss the limitations of applying each HDT and suggest a course of action for the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Jun Lu
- Institute of Special Environmental Medicine, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Daji Guo
- Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qian-Qi Wei
- Department of Infectious Diseases, General Hospital of Tibet Military Command, Xizang, China
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38
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Kim B, Zhao W, Coffey NJ, Bowman CE, Noji M, Jang C, Simon MC, Arany Z. HIF2α-dependent inhibition of mitochondrial clustering of glutaminase suppresses clear cell renal cell carcinoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.04.592520. [PMID: 38746132 PMCID: PMC11092754 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.04.592520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC) are largely driven by HIF2α and are avid consumers of glutamine. However, inhibitors of glutaminase1 (GLS1), the first step in glutaminolysis, have not shown benefit in phase III trials, and HIF2α inhibition, recently FDA-approved for treatment of ccRCC, shows great but incomplete benefits, underscoring the need to better understand the roles of glutamine and HIF2α in ccRCC. Here, we report that glutamine deprivation rapidly redistributes GLS1 into isolated clusters within mitochondria across diverse cell types, excluding ccRCC. GLS1 clustering is rapid (1-3 hours) and reversible, is specifically driven by the level of intracellular glutamate, and is mediated by mitochondrial fission. Clustered GLS1 has markedly enhanced glutaminase activity and promotes cell death under glutamine-deprived conditions. We further show that HIF2α prevents GLS1 clustering, independently of its transcriptional activity, thereby protecting ccRCC cells from cell death induced by glutamine deprivation. Reversing this protection, by genetic expression of GLS1 mutants that constitutively cluster, enhances ccRCC cell death in culture and suppresses ccRCC growth in vivo . These finding provide multiple insights into cellular glutamine handling, including a novel metabolic pathway by which HIF2α promotes ccRCC, and reveals a potential therapeutic avenue to synergize with HIF2α inhibition in the treatment of ccRCC.
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39
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Liu Y, Wu Z, Li Y, Chen Y, Zhao X, Wu M, Xia Y. Metabolic reprogramming and interventions in angiogenesis. J Adv Res 2024:S2090-1232(24)00178-4. [PMID: 38704087 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endothelial cell (EC) metabolism plays a crucial role in the process of angiogenesis. Intrinsic metabolic events such as glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and glutamine metabolism, support secure vascular migration and proliferation, energy and biomass production, as well as redox homeostasis maintenance during vessel formation. Nevertheless, perturbation of EC metabolism instigates vascular dysregulation-associated diseases, especially cancer. AIM OF REVIEW In this review, we aim to discuss the metabolic regulation of angiogenesis by EC metabolites and metabolic enzymes, as well as prospect the possible therapeutic opportunities and strategies targeting EC metabolism. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW In this work, we discuss various aspects of EC metabolism considering normal and diseased vasculature. Of relevance, we highlight that the implications of EC metabolism-targeted intervention (chiefly by metabolic enzymes or metabolites) could be harnessed in orchestrating a spectrum of pathological angiogenesis-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zifang Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Yikun Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Yating Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xuan Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Miaomiao Wu
- Animal Nutritional Genome and Germplasm Innovation Research Center, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China.
| | - Yaoyao Xia
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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40
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Masci D, Puxeddu M, Silvestri R, La Regina G. Metabolic Rewiring in Cancer: Small Molecule Inhibitors in Colorectal Cancer Therapy. Molecules 2024; 29:2110. [PMID: 38731601 PMCID: PMC11085455 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29092110] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Alterations in cellular metabolism, such as dysregulation in glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and glutaminolysis in response to hypoxic and low-nutrient conditions within the tumor microenvironment, are well-recognized hallmarks of cancer. Therefore, understanding the interplay between aerobic glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and glutaminolysis is crucial for developing effective metabolism-based therapies for cancer, particularly in the context of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this regard, the present review explores the complex field of metabolic reprogramming in tumorigenesis and progression, providing insights into the current landscape of small molecule inhibitors targeting tumorigenic metabolic pathways and their implications for CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domiziana Masci
- Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensivological and Perioperative Clinics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Michela Puxeddu
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (R.S.)
| | - Romano Silvestri
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (R.S.)
| | - Giuseppe La Regina
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (R.S.)
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Zhu G, Guan F, Li S, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Qin Y, Sun Z, Peng S, Cheng J, Li Y, Ren R, Fan T, Liu H. Glutaminase potentiates the glycolysis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by interacting with PDK1. Mol Carcinog 2024; 63:897-911. [PMID: 38353358 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23696] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Increasing evidence has demonstrated that glutaminase (GLS) as a key mitochondrial enzyme plays a pivotal role in glutaminolysis, which widely participates in glutamine metabolism serving as main energy sources and building blocks for tumor growth. However, the roles and molecular mechanisms of GLS in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown. Here, we found that GLS was highly expressed in ESCC tissues and cells. GLS inhibitor CB-839 significantly suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion of ESCC cells, whereas GLS overexpression displayed the opposite effects. In addition, CB-839 markedly suppressed glucose consumption and lactate production, coupled with the downregulation of glycolysis-related proteins HK2, PFKM, PKM2 and LDHA, whereas GLS overexpression exhibited the adverse results. In vivo animal experiment revealed that CB-839 dramatically suppressed tumor growth, whereas GLS overexpression promoted tumor growth in ESCC cells xenografted nude mice. Mechanistically, GLS was localized in mitochondria of ESCC cells, which interacted with PDK1 protein. CB-839 attenuated the interaction of GLS and PDK1 in ESCC cells by suppressing PDK1 expression, which further evoked the downregulation of p-PDHA1 (s293), however, GLS overexpression markedly enhanced the level of p-PDHA1 (s293). These findings suggest that interaction of GLS with PDK1 accelerates the glycolysis of ESCC cells by inactivating PDH enzyme, and thus targeting GLS may be a novel therapeutic approach for ESCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangzhao Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Fangxia Guan
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shenglei Li
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine (Zhengzhou People's Hospital), Translational Medicine Research Center Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xueying Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yue Qin
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zhangzhan Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shaohua Peng
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jiexing Cheng
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yiyang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ruili Ren
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Tianli Fan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Hongtao Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Hasan Bou Issa L, Fléchon L, Laine W, Ouelkdite A, Gaggero S, Cozzani A, Tilmont R, Chauvet P, Gower N, Sklavenitis-Pistofidis R, Brinster C, Thuru X, Touil Y, Quesnel B, Mitra S, Ghobrial IM, Kluza J, Manier S. MYC dependency in GLS1 and NAMPT is a therapeutic vulnerability in multiple myeloma. iScience 2024; 27:109417. [PMID: 38510131 PMCID: PMC10952034 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109417] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematological malignancy in which MYC alterations contribute to the malignant phenotype. Nevertheless, MYC lacks therapeutic druggability. Here, we leveraged large-scale loss-of-function screens and conducted a small molecule screen to identify genes and pathways with enhanced essentiality correlated with MYC expression. We reported a specific gene dependency in glutaminase (GLS1), essential for the viability and proliferation of MYC overexpressing cells. Conversely, the analysis of isogenic models, as well as cell lines dataset (CCLE) and patient datasets, revealed GLS1 as a non-oncogenic dependency in MYC-driven cells. We functionally delineated the differential modulation of glutamine to maintain mitochondrial function and cellular biosynthesis in MYC overexpressing cells. Furthermore, we observed that pharmaceutical inhibition of NAMPT selectively affects MYC upregulated cells. We demonstrate the effectiveness of combining GLS1 and NAMPT inhibitors, suggesting that targeting glutaminolysis and NAD synthesis may be a promising strategy to target MYC-driven MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lama Hasan Bou Issa
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Léa Fléchon
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
| | - William Laine
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Aicha Ouelkdite
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Silvia Gaggero
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Adeline Cozzani
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Remi Tilmont
- Department of Hematology, CHU Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Paul Chauvet
- Department of Hematology, CHU Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Nicolas Gower
- Department of Hematology, CHU Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | | | - Carine Brinster
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Xavier Thuru
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Yasmine Touil
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Bruno Quesnel
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
- Department of Hematology, CHU Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Suman Mitra
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Irene M. Ghobrial
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jérôme Kluza
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Salomon Manier
- Canther, INSERM UMR-S1277 and CNRS UMR9020, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France
- Department of Hematology, CHU Lille, 59000 Lille, France
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43
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Prange CJ, Sayed NYB, Feng B, Goepfert C, Trujillo DO, Hu X, Tang L. A redox-responsive prodrug for tumor-targeted glutamine restriction. J Control Release 2024; 368:251-264. [PMID: 38403173 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.02.031] [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: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Modulating the metabolism of cancer cells, immune cells, or both is a promising strategy to potentiate cancer immunotherapy in the nutrient-competitive tumor microenvironment. Glutamine has emerged as an ideal target as cancer cells highly rely on glutamine for replenishing the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the process of aerobic glycolysis. However, non-specific glutamine restriction may induce adverse effects in unconcerned tissues and therefore glutamine inhibitors have achieved limited success in the clinic so far. Here we report the synthesis and evaluation of a redox-responsive prodrug of 6-Diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (redox-DON) for tumor-targeted glutamine inhibition. When applied to treat mice bearing subcutaneous CT26 mouse colon carcinoma, redox-DON exhibited equivalent antitumor efficacy but a greatly improved safety profile, particularly, in spleen and gastrointestinal tract, as compared to the state-of-the-art DON prodrug, JHU083. Furthermore, redox-DON synergized with checkpoint blockade antibodies leading to durable cures in tumor-bearing mice. Our results suggest that redox-DON is a safe and effective therapeutic for tumor-targeted glutamine inhibition showing promise for enhanced metabolic modulatory immunotherapy. The approach of reversible chemical modification may be generalized to other metabolic modulatory drugs that suffer from overt toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Jasmin Prange
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland; Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Nadia Yasmina Ben Sayed
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland; Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Bing Feng
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland; Institute of Materials Science & Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Christine Goepfert
- Histology Core Facility, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland; COMPATH, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Berne, Berne CH-3012, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Ortiz Trujillo
- Mass Spectrometry Platform, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Xile Hu
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland.
| | - Li Tang
- Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland; Institute of Materials Science & Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland.
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44
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Tan Z, Boyapati K, Tressler CM, Jenkinson NM, Glunde K. Glutamine transporter SLC38A3 promotes breast cancer metastasis via Gsk3β/β-catenin/EMT pathway. Cancer Lett 2024; 586:216653. [PMID: 38309615 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216653] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the leading cancer-related cause of death in women. Here we show that solute carrier family 38-member 3 (SLC38A3) is overexpressed in breast cancer, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and tissues. Our study reveals that SLC38A3 regulates cellular glutamine, glutamate, asparagine, aspartate, alanine, and glutathione (GSH) levels in breast cancer cells. Our data demonstrate that SLC38A3 enhances cell viability, cell migration and invasion in vitro, and promotes tumor growth and metastasis in vivo, while reducing apoptosis and oxidative stress. Mechanistically, we show that SLC38A3 suppresses the activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3-β (Gsk3β), a negative regulator of β-catenin, and increases protein levels of β-catenin, leading to the upregulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT)-inducing transcription factors and EMT markers in breast cancer. In summary, we show that SLC38A3 is overexpressed in breast cancer and promotes breast cancer metastasis via the GSK3β/β-catenin/EMT pathway, presenting a novel therapeutic target to explore for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheqiong Tan
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Cancer Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Medical Laboratory, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Keerti Boyapati
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Cancer Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Caitlin M Tressler
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Cancer Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicole M Jenkinson
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Cancer Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kristine Glunde
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Cancer Imaging Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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45
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Feng L, Chen Y, Mei X, Wang L, Zhao W, Yao J. Prognostic Signature in Osteosarcoma Based on Amino Acid Metabolism-Associated Genes. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2024. [PMID: 38512709 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2024.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is undeniably a formidable bone malignancy characterized by a scarcity of effective treatment options. Reprogramming of amino acid (AA) metabolism has been associated with OS development. The present study was designed to identify metabolism-associated genes (MAGs) that are differentially expressed in OS and to construct a MAG-based prognostic risk signature for this disease. Methods: Expression profiles and clinicopathological data were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and UCSC Xena databases. A set of AA MAGs was obtained from the MSigDB database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GEO dataset were identified using "limma." Prognostic MAGs from UCSC Xena database were determined through univariate Cox regression and used in the prognostic signature development. This signature was validated using another dataset from GEO database. Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, single sample gene set enrichment analysis, and GDSC2 analyses were performed to explore the biological functions of the MAGs. A MAG-based nomogram was established to predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the expression of MAGs in primary OS and paired adjacent normal tissues. Results: A total of 790 DEGs and 62 prognostic MAGs were identified. A MAG-based signature was constructed based on four MAGs: PIPOX, PSMC2, SMOX, and PSAT1. The prognostic value of this signature was successfully validated, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival of 0.714, 0.719, and 0.715, respectively. This MAG-based signature was correlated with the infiltration of CD56dim natural killer cells and resistance to several antiangiogenic agents. The nomogram was accurate in predictions, with a C-index of 0.77. The expression of MAGs verified by experiment was consistent with the trends observed in GEO database. Conclusion: Four AA MAGs were prognostic of survival in OS patients. This MAG-based signature has the potential to offer valuable insights into the development of treatments for OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Feng
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuting Chen
- Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangping Mei
- Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenjing Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiannan Yao
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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46
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Zhang C, Liu F, Zhang Y, Song C. Macrocycles and macrocyclization in anticancer drug discovery: Important pieces of the puzzle. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116234. [PMID: 38401189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116234] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Increasing disease-related proteins have been identified as novel therapeutic targets. Macrocycles are emerging as potential solutions, bridging the gap between conventional small molecules and biomacromolecules in drug discovery. Inspired by successful macrocyclic drugs of natural origins, macrocycles are attracting more attention for enhanced binding affinity and target selectivity. Due to the conformation constraint and structure preorganization, macrocycles can reach bioactive conformations more easily than parent acyclic compounds. Also, rational macrocyclization combined with sequent structural modification will help improve oral bioavailability and combat drug resistance. This review introduces various strategies to enhance membrane permeability in macrocyclization and subsequent modification, such as N-methylation, intramolecular hydrogen bonding modulation, isomerization, and reversible bicyclization. Several case studies highlight macrocyclic inhibitors targeting kinases, HDAC, and protein-protein interactions. Finally, some macrocyclic agents targeting tumor microenvironments are illustrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- Laboratory for Food and Medicine Homologous Natural Resources Development and Utilization, Belgorod College of Food Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, 253023, China
| | - Fenfen Liu
- Laboratory for Food and Medicine Homologous Natural Resources Development and Utilization, Belgorod College of Food Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, 253023, China
| | - Youming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
| | - Chun Song
- Laboratory for Food and Medicine Homologous Natural Resources Development and Utilization, Belgorod College of Food Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, 253023, China; State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
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47
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Xiao YL, Gong Y, Qi YJ, Shao ZM, Jiang YZ. Effects of dietary intervention on human diseases: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:59. [PMID: 38462638 PMCID: PMC10925609 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01771-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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Diet, serving as a vital source of nutrients, exerts a profound influence on human health and disease progression. Recently, dietary interventions have emerged as promising adjunctive treatment strategies not only for cancer but also for neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders. These interventions have demonstrated substantial potential in modulating metabolism, disease trajectory, and therapeutic responses. Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of malignant progression, and a deeper understanding of this phenomenon in tumors and its effects on immune regulation is a significant challenge that impedes cancer eradication. Dietary intake, as a key environmental factor, can influence tumor metabolism. Emerging evidence indicates that dietary interventions might affect the nutrient availability in tumors, thereby increasing the efficacy of cancer treatments. However, the intricate interplay between dietary interventions and the pathogenesis of cancer and other diseases is complex. Despite encouraging results, the mechanisms underlying diet-based therapeutic strategies remain largely unexplored, often resulting in underutilization in disease management. In this review, we aim to illuminate the potential effects of various dietary interventions, including calorie restriction, fasting-mimicking diet, ketogenic diet, protein restriction diet, high-salt diet, high-fat diet, and high-fiber diet, on cancer and the aforementioned diseases. We explore the multifaceted impacts of these dietary interventions, encompassing their immunomodulatory effects, other biological impacts, and underlying molecular mechanisms. This review offers valuable insights into the potential application of these dietary interventions as adjunctive therapies in disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ling Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yue Gong
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ying-Jia Qi
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Shao
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yi-Zhou Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, 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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Feng S, Aplin C, Nguyen TTT, Milano SK, Cerione RA. Filament formation drives catalysis by glutaminase enzymes important in cancer progression. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1971. [PMID: 38438397 PMCID: PMC10912226 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46351-3] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The glutaminase enzymes GAC and GLS2 catalyze the hydrolysis of glutamine to glutamate, satisfying the 'glutamine addiction' of cancer cells. They are the targets of anti-cancer drugs; however, their mechanisms of activation and catalytic activity have been unclear. Here we demonstrate that the ability of GAC and GLS2 to form filaments is directly coupled to their catalytic activity and present their cryo-EM structures which provide a view of the conformational states essential for catalysis. Filament formation guides an 'activation loop' to assume a specific conformation that works together with a 'lid' to close over the active site and position glutamine for nucleophilic attack by an essential serine. Our findings highlight how ankyrin repeats on GLS2 regulate enzymatic activity, while allosteric activators stabilize, and clinically relevant inhibitors block, filament formation that enables glutaminases to catalyze glutaminolysis and support cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Feng
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Cody Aplin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Thuy-Tien T Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Shawn K Milano
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Richard A Cerione
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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