The crosstalk among the physical tumor microenvironment and the effects of glucose deprivation on tumors in the past decade

Glucose deprivation impairs hypoxia-inducible factor-1α synthesis

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are key transcriptional mediators of the hypoxic response and are implicated in oncogenesis. HIFα is regulated by a well-characterized, oxygen-dependent degradation pathway involving the von Hippel Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor protein. However, comparatively little is known about HIFα regulation at the translational level, particularly under cellular stress. There is evidence that HIFα expression not only responds to changes in oxygen tension, but also nutrient availability. In this study, we monitored global translation rates, ATP levels and HIF1α synthesis rates in response to glucose starvation or glycolysis inhibition. We found that both global and HIF1α-specific translation rates decline under glucose deprivation that is concomitant with ATP reduction. These results are in contrast with previous reports showing preferential HIF1α synthesis despite global translation suppression under hypoxia and suggest that a glucose requirement in cellular metabolism is associated with HIF1α translation.

Metabolomic profiling of upper GI malignancies in blood and tissue: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control and cohort human studies evaluating metabolite markers identified using high-throughput metabolomics techniques on esophageal cancer (EC), cancer of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), and gastric cancer (GC) in blood and tissue.

BACKGROUND

Upper gastrointestinal cancers (UGC), predominantly EC, GEJ, and GC, are malignant tumour types with high morbidity and mortality rates. Numerous studies have focused on metabolomic profiling of UGC in recent years. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we have provided a collective summary of previous findings on metabolites and metabolomic profiling associated with EC, GEJ and GC.

METHODS

Following the PRISMA procedure, a systematic search of four databases (Embase, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science) for molecular epidemiologic studies on the metabolomic profiles of EC, GEJ and GC was conducted and registered at PROSPERO (CRD42023486631). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to benchmark the risk of bias for case-controlled and cohort studies. QUADOMICS, an adaptation of the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy) tool, was used to rate diagnostic accuracy studies. Original articles comparing metabolite patterns between patients with and without UGC were included. Two investigators independently completed title and abstract screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation. Meta-analysis was conducted whenever possible. We used a random effects model to investigate the association between metabolite levels and UGC.

RESULTS

A total of 66 original studies involving 7267 patients that met the required criteria were included for review. 169 metabolites were differentially distributed in patients with UGC compared to healthy patients among 44 GC, 9 GEJ, and 25 EC studies including metabolites involved in glycolysis, anaerobic respiration, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and lipid metabolism. Phosphatidylcholines, eicosanoids, and adenosine triphosphate were among the most frequently reported lipids and metabolites of cellular respiration, while BCAA, lysine, and asparagine were among the most commonly reported amino acids. Previously identified lipid metabolites included saturated and unsaturated free fatty acids and ketones. However, the key findings across studies have been inconsistent, possibly due to limited sample sizes and the majority being hospital-based case-control analyses lacking an independent replication group.

CONCLUSION

Thus far, metabolomic studies have provided new opportunities for screening, etiological factors, and biomarkers for UGC, supporting the potential of applying metabolomic profiling in early cancer diagnosis. According to the results of our meta-analysis especially BCAA and TMAO as well as certain phosphatidylcholines should be implicated into the diagnostic procedure of patients with UGC. We envision that metabolomics will significantly enhance our understanding of the carcinogenesis and progression process of UGC and may eventually facilitate precise oncological and patient-tailored management of UGC.

Research advances in huntingtin-associated protein 1 and its application prospects in diseases

Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1) was the first protein discovered to interact with huntingtin. Besides brain, HAP1 is also expressed in the spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion, endocrine, and digestive systems. HAP1 has diverse functions involving in vesicular transport, receptor recycling, gene transcription, and signal transduction. HAP1 is strongly linked to several neurological diseases, including Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, ischemic stroke, and depression. In addition, HAP1 has been proved to participate in cancers and diabetes mellitus. This article provides an overview of HAP1 regarding the tissue distribution, cell localization, functions, and offers fresh perspectives to investigate its role in diseases.

TDCPP and TiO2 NPs aggregates synergistically induce SH-SY5Y cell neurotoxicity by excessive mitochondrial fission and mitophagy inhibition

Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP), a halogen-containing phosphorus flame retardant, is widely used and has been shown to possess health risks to humans. The sustained release of artificial nanomaterials into the environment increases the toxicological risks of their coexisting pollutants. Nanomaterials may seriously change the environmental behavior and fate of pollutants. In this study, we investigated this combined toxicity and the potential mechanisms of toxicity of TDCPP and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) aggregates on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. TDCPP and TiO2 NPs aggregates were exposed in various concentration combinations, revealing that TDCPP (25 μg/mL) reduced cell viability, while synergistic exposure to TiO2 NPs aggregates exacerbated cytotoxicity. This combined exposure also disrupted mitochondrial function, leading to dysregulation in the expression of mitochondrial fission proteins (DRP1 and FIS1) and fusion proteins (OPA1 and MFN1). Consequently, excessive mitochondrial fission occurred, facilitating the translocation of cytochrome C from mitochondria to activate apoptotic signaling pathways. Furthermore, exposure of the combination of TDCPP and TiO2 NPs aggregates activated upstream mitochondrial autophagy but disrupted downstream Parkin recruitment to damaged mitochondria, preventing autophagosome-lysosome fusion and thereby disrupting mitochondrial autophagy. Altogether, our findings suggest that TDCPP and TiO2 NPs aggregates may stimulate apoptosis in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells by inducing mitochondrial hyperfission and inhibiting mitochondrial autophagy.