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Siwo GH, Singal AG, Waljee AK. Pan-cancer molecular signatures connecting aspartate transaminase (AST) to cancer prognosis, metabolic and immune signatures. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.01.582939. [PMID: 38496547 PMCID: PMC10942358 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.01.582939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Background Serum aspartate transaminase (sAST) level is used routinely in conjunction with other clinical assays to assess liver health and disease. Increasing evidence suggests that sAST is associated with all-cause mortality and has prognostic value in several cancers, including gastrointestinal and urothelial cancers. Here, we undertake a systems approach to unravel molecular connections between AST and cancer prognosis, metabolism, and immune signatures at the transcriptomic and proteomic levels. Methods We mined public gene expression data across multiple normal and cancerous tissues using the Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEX) resource and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to assess the expression of genes encoding AST isoenzymes (GOT1 and GOT2) and their association with disease prognosis and immune infiltration signatures across multiple tumors. We examined the associations between AST and previously reported pan-cancer molecular subtypes characterized by distinct metabolic and immune signatures. We analyzed human protein-protein interaction networks for interactions between GOT1 and GOT2 with cancer-associated proteins. Using public databases and protein-protein interaction networks, we determined whether the subset of proteins that interact with AST (GOT1 and GOT2 interactomes) are enriched with proteins associated with specific diseases, miRNAs and transcription factors. Results We show that AST transcript isoforms (GOT1 and GOT2) are expressed across a wide range of normal tissues. AST isoforms are upregulated in tumors of the breast, lung, uterus, and thymus relative to normal tissues but downregulated in tumors of the liver, colon, brain, kidney and skeletal sarcomas. At the proteomic level, we find that the expression of AST is associated with distinct pan-cancer molecular subtypes with an enrichment of specific metabolic and immune signatures. Based on human protein-protein interaction data, AST physically interacts with multiple proteins involved in tumor initiation, suppression, progression, and treatment. We find enrichments in the AST interactomes for proteins associated with liver and lung cancer and dermatologic diseases. At the regulatory level, the GOT1 interactome is enriched with the targets of cancer-associated miRNAs, specifically mir34a - a promising cancer therapeutic, while the GOT2 interactome is enriched with proteins that interact with cancer-associated transcription factors. Conclusions Our findings suggest that perturbations in the levels of AST within specific tissues reflect pathophysiological changes beyond tissue damage and have implications for cancer metabolism, immune infiltration, prognosis, and treatment personalization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX
- Center for Global Health Equity, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Akbar K. Waljee
- Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX
- Center for Global Health Equity, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Yang R, Cheng S, Xiao J, Pei Y, Zhu Z, Zhang J, Feng J, Li J. GLS and GOT2 as prognostic biomarkers associated with dendritic cell and immunotherapy response in breast cancer. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24163. [PMID: 38234908 PMCID: PMC10792574 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24163] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the females' most common cancer. Targeting the immune microenvironment is a new and promising treatment method for breast cancer. Nevertheless, only a small section of patients can profit by immunotherapy, and improving the ability to accurately predict the potential for immunotherapy response is still awaiting further exploration. In this study, we found that the key factors of glutamine metabolism, glutaminase 1 (GLS) and mitochondrial aspartate transaminase (GOT2), showed opposite expression patterns in breast cancer samples. Based on the expression level of GLS and GOT2, we divided the breast cancer samples into two clusters: Cluster 2 showed GLS expressed higher and GOT2 expressed lower, whereas Cluster 1 showed GOT2 expressed higher and GLS expressed lower. GSEA showed that the clusters were related to pathways of immunity. Further analysis showed that Cluster 2 was positively associated with immunity infiltration. Through WGCNA, we identified a module strongly correlated with glutamine metabolism and immunity and identified 11 dendritic cell-associated genes involved in dendritic cell development, maturation, activation and other functions. In addition, Cluster 2 also showed higher immune checkpoint gene expression, which suggest the Cluster 2 had even better response to immunotherapy. The validation dataset could also be clustered into two groups. Cluster 2 (GLS expressed higher and GOT2 expressed lower) of the validation dataset was also positively associated with dendritic cells and a better immunotherapy response. Thus, these data indicate that GLS and GOT2 are prognostic biomarkers which closely related to dendritic cells and better reacted to immunotherapy in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifang Yang
- Anhui University of Science and Technology Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, Shanghai, 201499, China
| | - Shuo Cheng
- Anhui University of Science and Technology Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, Shanghai, 201499, China
| | - Jie Xiao
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yujie Pei
- Anhui University of Science and Technology Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, Shanghai, 201499, China
| | - Zhonglin Zhu
- Anhui University of Science and Technology Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, Shanghai, 201499, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- Anhui University of Science and Technology Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, Shanghai, 201499, China
| | - Jing Feng
- Anhui University of Science and Technology Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, Shanghai, 201499, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518172, China
| | - Jing Li
- Anhui University of Science and Technology Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, Shanghai, 201499, China
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
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Kerk SA, Garcia-Bermudez J, Birsoy K, Sherman MH, Shah YM, Lyssiotis CA. Spotlight on GOT2 in Cancer Metabolism. Onco Targets Ther 2023; 16:695-702. [PMID: 37635751 PMCID: PMC10460182 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s382161] [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: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
GOT2 is at the nexus of several critical metabolic pathways in homeostatic cellular and dysregulated cancer metabolism. Despite this, recent work has emphasized the remarkable plasticity of cancer cells to employ compensatory pathways when GOT2 is inhibited. Here, we review the metabolic roles of GOT2, highlighting findings in both normal and cancer cells. We emphasize how cancer cells repurpose cell intrinsic metabolism and their flexibility when GOT2 is inhibited. We close by using this framework to discuss key considerations for future investigations into cancer metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Kerk
- Doctoral Program in Cancer Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Javier Garcia-Bermudez
- Children’s Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kivanc Birsoy
- Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mara H Sherman
- Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yatrik M Shah
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Costas A Lyssiotis
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Feng LL, Huang Z, Nong YY, Guo BJ, Wang QY, Qin JH, He Y, Zhu D, Guo HW, Qin YL, Zhong XY, Guo Y, Cheng B, Ou SF, Su ZH. Evaluation of aristolochic acid Ι nephrotoxicity in mice via 1H NMR quantitative metabolomics and network pharmacology approaches. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2023; 12:282-295. [PMID: 37125334 PMCID: PMC10141773 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfad020] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although many studies have shown that herbs containing aristolochic acids can treat various human diseases, AAΙ in particular has been implicated as a nephrotoxic agent. Methods and results Here, we detail the nephrotoxic effect of AAΙ via an approach that integrated 1H NMR-based metabonomics and network pharmacology. Our findings revealed renal injury in mice after the administration of AAΙ. Metabolomic data confirmed significant differences among the renal metabolic profiles of control and model groups, with significant reductions in 12 differential metabolites relevant to 23 metabolic pathways. Among them, there were seven important metabolic pathways: arginine and proline metabolism; glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; taurine and hypotaurine metabolism; ascorbate and aldehyde glycolate metabolism; pentose and glucosinolate interconversion; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; and glyoxylate and dicarboxylic acid metabolism. Relevant genes, namely, nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1), pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1), nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase 2 (GOT2), were highlighted via network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. Quantitative real-time PCR findings revealed that AAI administration significantly downregulated GOT2 and NOS3 and significantly upregulated NOS1 and PYCR1 expression and thus influenced the metabolism of arginine and proline. Conclusion This work provides a meaningful insight for the mechanism of AAΙ renal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin-Lin Feng
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Zheng Huang
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Yun-Yuan Nong
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Bing-Jian Guo
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Qian-Yi Wang
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Jing-Hua Qin
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Ying He
- First Clinical Medical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Hong-Wei Guo
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Yue-Lian Qin
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Xin-Yu Zhong
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Yue Guo
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Quality Standards, Guangxi Institute of Traditional Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, No. 20-1 Dongge Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530022, China
| | - Bang Cheng
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Song-Feng Ou
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Zhi-Heng Su
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules Research and Evaluation, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
- Guangxi Beibu Gulf Marine Biomedicine Precision Development, High-value Utilization Engineering Research Center, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
- Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research on Antigeriatric Drugs, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning 530021, China
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