1
|
Luo H, Wang Q, Yang F, Liu R, Gao Q, Cheng B, Lin X, Huang L, Chen C, Xiang J, Wang K, Qin B, Tang N. Signaling metabolite succinylacetone activates HIF-1α and promotes angiogenesis in GSTZ1-deficient hepatocellular carcinoma. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e164968. [PMID: 37906252 PMCID: PMC10896004 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.164968] [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: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with tumor growth, progression, and local or distant metastasis. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor that plays a major role in regulating angiogenesis during adaptation of tumor cells to nutrient-deprived microenvironments. Genetic defects in Krebs cycle enzymes, such as succinate dehydrogenase and fumarate hydratase, result in elevation of oncometabolites succinate and fumarate, thereby increasing HIF-1α stability and activating the HIF-1α signaling pathway. However, whether other metabolites regulate HIF-1α stability remains unclear. Here, we reported that deficiency of the enzyme in phenylalanine/tyrosine catabolism, glutathione S-transferase zeta 1 (GSTZ1), led to accumulation of succinylacetone, which was structurally similar to α-ketoglutarate. Succinylacetone competed with α-ketoglutarate for prolyl hydroxylase domain 2 (PHD2) binding and inhibited PHD2 activity, preventing hydroxylation of HIF-1α, thus resulting in its stabilization and consequent expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Our findings suggest that GSTZ1 may serve as an important tumor suppressor owing to its ability to inhibit the HIF-1α/VEGFA axis in HCC. Moreover, we explored the therapeutic potential of HIF-1α inhibitor combined with anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 therapy to effectively prevent HCC angiogenesis and tumorigenesis in Gstz1-knockout mice, suggesting a potentially actionable strategy for HCC treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huating Luo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital
| | - Qiujie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital; and
| | - Qingzhu Gao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital
| | - Bin Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital
| | - Xue Lin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital
| | - Luyi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital
| | - Chang Chen
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jin Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital
| | - Kai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital
| | - Bo Qin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital
| | - Ni Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital
| |
Collapse
|