Lactate Rewrites the Metabolic Reprogramming of Uveal Melanoma Cells and Induces Quiescence Phenotype

Lactate and lysine lactylation of histone regulate transcription in cancer

Histone lysine modifications were well-established epigenetic markers, with many types identified and extensively studied. The discovery of histone lysine lactylation had revealed a new form of epigenetic modification. The intensification of this modification was associated with glycolysis and elevated intracellular lactate levels, both of which were closely linked to cellular metabolism. Histone lactylation plays a crucial role in multiple cellular homeostasis, including immune regulation and cancer progression, thereby significantly influencing cell fate. Lactylation can modify both histone and non-histone proteins. This paper provided a comprehensive review of the typical epigenetic effects and lactylation on classical transcription-related lysine sites and summarized the known enzymes involved in histone lactylation and delactylation. Additionally, some discoveries of histone lactylation in tumor biology were also discussed, and some prospects for this field were put forward.

Mitophagy and Ferroptosis in Sepsis-Induced ALI/ARDS: Molecular Mechanisms, Interactions and Therapeutic Prospects of Medicinal Plants

Sepsis is a common critical illness characterized by high mortality rates and a significant disease burden. In the context of sepsis-induced organ dysfunction, the lungs are among the initial organs affected, which may progress to acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Recent studies have highlighted the crucial roles of mitophagy and ferroptosis in the development and progression of sepsis-induced ALI/ARDS. Identifying key convergence points in these processes may provide valuable insights for the treatment of this condition. In recent years, certain herbs and their bioactive compounds have demonstrated unique benefits in managing sepsis-induced ALI/ARDS by modulating mitophagy or ferroptosis. This review summary the mechanisms of mitophagy and ferroptosis, explores their interactions, and emphasizes their regulatory roles in the progression of sepsis-induced ALI/ARDS. Additionally, it offers a novel perspective on treatment strategies by summarizing various herbs and their bioactive compounds relevant to this condition.

Glioblastoma mesenchymal subtype enhances antioxidant defence to reduce susceptibility to ferroptosis

Glioblastoma (GBM) represents an aggressive brain tumor, characterized by intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity and therapy resistance, leading to unfavourable prognosis. An increasing number of studies pays attention on the regulation of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, as a strategy to reverse drug resistance in cancer. However, the debate on whether this strategy may have important implications for the treatment of GBM is still ongoing. In the present study, we used ferric ammonium citrate and erastin to evaluate ferroptosis induction effects on two human GBM cell lines, U-251 MG, with proneural characteristics, and T98-G, with a mesenchymal profile. The response to ferroptosis induction was markedly different between cell lines, indeed T98-G cells showed an enhanced antioxidant defence, with increased glutathione levels, as compared to U-251 MG cells. Moreover, using bioinformatic approaches and analysing publicly available datasets from patients' biopsies, we found that GBM with a mesenchymal phenotype showed an up-regulation of several genes involved in antioxidant mechanisms as compared to proneural subtype. Thus, our results suggest that GBM subtypes differently respond to ferroptosis induction, emphasizing the significance of further molecular studies on GBM to better discriminate between various tumor subtypes and progressively move towards personalized therapy.

A cuproptosis-related prognostic signature for guiding clinical diagnosis and treatment in uveal melanoma patients

Background

Cuproptosis, one of the most recently discovered forms of cell death, is induced by the disruption of copper binding to the mitochondrial respiratory acylation components. However, the mechanism underlying cuproptosis in uveal melanoma (UM) has not yet been adequately studied.

Methods

RNA and clinical data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differentially expressed cuproptosis-related genes were identified by R software. A prognostic signature was constructed by applying LASSO regression and Cox regression models. The associations between the signature and the immune microenvironment, overall survival, and drug sensitivity were studied. In addition, qPCR and Western blotting were performed on UM cells and RPE cell lines to verify the expression levels of the genes encoding dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLD) and dihydrolipoamide S-succinyltransferase (DLST) in UM cases.

Results

Using a cuproptosis-related prognostic signature, UM samples were classified into high- and low-risk groups. A significant difference in overall survival between the two risk groups was evident. Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated that the signature is a reliable predictor of prognosis. Immune cell infiltration, drug sensitivity, and immune checkpoint expression were analysed. Significant immune difference between the two high-risk groups was found, and the high expression of immune checkpoints in high-risk groups suggests significant immunotherapy potential. In addition, drug sensitivity analysis experiments suggest that erlotinib may be a potential treatment for high-risk patients. The results of in vitro experiments confirmed that DLD and DLST had higher expression levels in UM cell lines.

Conclusions

The prognostic signature developed in this study is a reliable biomarker for predicting the prognosis of UM and may serve as a tool for personalised treatment of patients with UM.

Aging exacerbates oxidative stress and liver fibrosis in an animal model of Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome (DS) is a common genetic disorder characterized by an extra copy of chromosome 21, leading to dysregulation of various metabolic pathways. Oxidative stress in DS is associated with neurodevelopmental defects, neuronal dysfunction, and a dementia onset resembling Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, chronic oxidative stress contributes to cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers prevalent in DS individuals. This study investigates the impact of ageing on oxidative stress and liver fibrosis using a DS murine model (Ts2Cje mice). Our results show that DS mice show increased liver oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defenses, as evidenced by reduced glutathione levels and increased lipid peroxidation. Therefore, DS liver exhibits an altered inflammatory response and mitochondrial fitness as we showed by assaying the expression of HMOX1, CLPP, and the heat shock proteins Hsp90 and Hsp60. DS liver also displays dysregulated lipid metabolism, indicated by altered expression of PPARα, PPARγ, FATP5, and CTP2. Consistently, these changes might contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease development, a condition characterized by liver fat accumulation. Consistently, histological analysis of DS liver reveals increased fibrosis and steatosis, as showed by Col1a1 increased expression, indicative of potential progression to liver cirrhosis. Therefore, our findings suggest an increased risk of liver pathologies in DS individuals, particularly when combined with the higher prevalence of obesity and metabolic dysfunctions in DS patients. These results shed a light on the liver's role in DS-associated pathologies and suggest potential therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative stress and lipid metabolism to prevent or mitigate liver-related complications in DS individuals.

[Role and Mechanism of Lactylation in Cancer]

Post translational modifications (PTMs) can change the properties of a protein by covalent addition of functional groups to one or more amino acids, and influence almost all aspects of normal cell biology and pathogenesis. Lactylation is a novel identified PTM, and has been found in both histone and non-histone proteins. Since associated with the end product of glycolysis-- lactate, lactylation modification could provide a new perspective for understanding the relationship between metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic modifications. Accumulated evidences suggest that lactylation play important roles in tumor progression and links to poor prognosis in clinical studies. Histone lactylation can affect gene expression in tumor cells and immunological cells, further promoting tumor progression and immune suppression. Lactylation on non-histone proteins can also regulate tumor progression and drug resistance. In this review, we aimed to summarize the roles of lactylation in cancer progression, microenvironment interactions and immune suppression, try to identify new molecular targets for cancer therapy and provide a new direction for combined targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
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Multisensory Fusion Training and 7, 8-Dihydroxyflavone Improve Amyloid-β-Induced Cognitive Impairment, Anxiety, and Depression-Like Behavior in Mice Through Multiple Mechanisms

Background

There is growing interest in the role of physical activity in patients with of Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly regarding its impact of cognitive function, gut microbiota, metabolites, and neurotrophic factors.

Objective

To investigate the impact of multisensory fusion training (MSFT) combined with 7, 8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF) on the behavioral characteristics, protein expression, microbiome, and serum metabolome using the AD model in mice induced with amyloid-β (Aβ).

Methods

We assessed cognitive ability, anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors in Aβ mice using behavioral measures. Western blotting was employed to detect the expression of relevant proteins. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics were used to analyze changes in the intestinal microbial composition and serum metabolic profile, respectively, of Aβ mice.

Results

The behavioral outcomes indicated that a 4-week intervention combining DHF and MSFT yielded remarkable improvements in cognitive function and reduced anxiety and depression-like behaviors in Aβ mice. In the hippocampus of Aβ mice, the combined intervention increased the levels of BDNF, VGF, PSD-95, Nrf2, p-GSK3β and p-CREB proteins. Analyses of sequence and metabolomic data revealed that Bacteroides and Ruminococcaceae were remarkably more abundant following the combined intervention, influencing the expression of specific metabolites directly linked to the maintenance of neuronal and neurobehavioral functions. These metabolites play a crucial role in vital processes, such as amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and neurotransmitter metabolism in mice.

Conclusion

Our study highlighted that MSFT combined with DHF improves cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression-like behavior in Aβ mice through multiple mechanisms, and further validated the correlation between the gut microbiome and serum metabolome. These findings open up a promising avenue for future investigations into potential treatment strategies for AD.

Unravelling the metabolic landscape of cutaneous melanoma: Insights from single-cell sequencing analysis and machine learning for prognostic assessment of lactate metabolism

This manuscript presents a comprehensive investigation into the role of lactate metabolism-related genes as potential prognostic markers in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). Bulk-transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GSE19234, GSE22153, and GSE65904 cohorts from GEO database were processed and harmonized to mitigate batch effects. Lactate metabolism scores were assigned to individual cells using the 'AUCell' package. Weighted Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was employed to identify gene modules correlated with lactate metabolism. Machine learning algorithms were applied to construct a prognostic model, and its performance was evaluated in multiple cohorts. Immune correlation, mutation analysis, and enrichment analysis were conducted to further characterize the prognostic model's biological implications. Finally, the function of key gene NDUFS7 was verified by cell experiments. Machine learning resulted in an optimal prognostic model, demonstrating significant prognostic value across various cohorts. In the different cohorts, the high-risk group showed a poor prognosis. Immune analysis indicated differences in immune cell infiltration and checkpoint gene expression between risk groups. Mutation analysis identified genes with high mutation loads in SKCM. Enrichment analysis unveiled enriched pathways and biological processes in high-risk SKCM patients. NDUFS7 was found to be a hub gene in the protein-protein interaction network. After the expression of NDUFS7 was reduced by siRNA knockdown, CCK-8, colony formation, transwell and wound healing tests showed that the activity, proliferation and migration of A375 and WM115 cell lines were significantly decreased. This study offers insights into the prognostic significance of lactate metabolism-related genes in SKCM.

A glimpse into novel acylations and their emerging role in regulating cancer metastasis

Metastatic cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality; however, the complex regulation process remains to be further elucidated. A large amount of preliminary investigations focus on the role of epigenetic mechanisms in cancer metastasis. Notably, the posttranslational modifications were found to be critically involved in malignancy, thus attracting considerable attention. Beyond acetylation, novel forms of acylation have been recently identified following advances in mass spectrometry, proteomics technologies, and bioinformatics, such as propionylation, butyrylation, malonylation, succinylation, crotonylation, 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation, lactylation, among others. These novel acylations play pivotal roles in regulating different aspects of energy mechanism and mediating signal transduction by covalently modifying histone or nonhistone proteins. Furthermore, these acylations and their modifying enzymes show promise regarding the diagnosis and treatment of tumors, especially tumor metastasis. Here, we comprehensively review the identification and characterization of 11 novel acylations, and the corresponding modifying enzymes, highlighting their significance for tumor metastasis. We also focus on their potential application as clinical therapeutic targets and diagnostic predictors, discussing the current obstacles and future research prospects.

Transcending frontiers in prostate cancer: the role of oncometabolites on epigenetic regulation, CSCs, and tumor microenvironment to identify new therapeutic strategies

Prostate cancer, as one of the most prevalent malignancies in males, exhibits an approximate 5-year survival rate of 95% in advanced stages. A myriad of molecular events and mutations, including the accumulation of oncometabolites, underpin the genesis and progression of this cancer type. Despite growing research demonstrating the pivotal role of oncometabolites in supporting various cancers, including prostate cancer, the root causes of their accumulation, especially in the absence of enzymatic mutations, remain elusive. Consequently, identifying a tangible therapeutic target poses a formidable challenge. In this review, we aim to delve deeper into the implications of oncometabolite accumulation in prostate cancer. We center our focus on the consequential epigenetic alterations and impacts on cancer stem cells, with the ultimate goal of outlining novel therapeutic strategies.

Integrative lactylation and tumor microenvironment signature as prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers in skin cutaneous melanoma

BACKGROUND

The incidence of skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM), one of the most aggressive and lethal skin tumors, is increasing worldwide. However, for advanced SKCM, we still lack an accurate and valid way to predict its prognosis, as well as novel theories to guide the planning of treatment options for SKCM patients. Lactylation (LAC), a novel post-translational modification of histones, has been shown to promote tumor growth and inhibit the antitumor response of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in a variety of ways. We hope that this study will provide new ideas for treatment options for SKCM patients, as well as research on the molecular mechanisms of SKCM pathogenesis and development.

METHODS

At the level of the RNA sequencing set (TCGA, GTEx), we used differential expression analysis, LASSO regression analysis, and multifactor Cox regression analysis to screen for prognosis-related genes and calculate the corresponding LAC scores. The content of TME cells in the tumor tissue was calculated using the CIBERSORT algorithm, and the TME score was calculated based on its results. Finally, the LAC-TME classifier was established and further analyzed based on the two scores, including the construction of a prognostic model, analysis of clinicopathological characteristics, and correlation analysis of tumor mutation burden (TMB) and immunotherapy. Based on single-cell RNA sequencing data, this study analyzed the cellular composition in SKCM tissues and explored the role of LAC scores in intercellular communication. To validate the functionality of the pivotal gene CLPB in the model, cellular experiments were ultimately executed.

RESULTS

We screened a total of six prognosis-related genes (NDUFA10, NDUFA13, CLPB, RRM2B, HPDL, NARS2) and 7 TME cells with good prognosis. According to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, we found that the LAClow/TMEhigh group had the highest overall survival (OS) and the LAChigh/TMElow group had the lowest OS (p value < 0.05). In further analysis of immune infiltration, tumor microenvironment (TME), functional enrichment, tumor mutational load and immunotherapy, we found that immunotherapy was more appropriate in the LAClow/TMEhigh group. Moreover, the cellular assays exhibited substantial reductions in proliferation, migration, and invasive potentials of melanoma cells in both A375 and A2058 cell lines upon CLPB knockdown.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognostic model using the combined LAC score and TME score was able to predict the prognosis of SKCM patients more consistently, and the LAC-TME classifier was able to significantly differentiate the prognosis of SKCM patients across multiple clinicopathological features. The LAC-TME classifier has an important role in the development of immunotherapy regimens for SKCM patients.

Histone lactylation regulates cancer progression by reshaping the tumor microenvironment

As a major product of glycolysis and a vital signaling molecule, many studies have reported the key role of lactate in tumor progression and cell fate determination. Lactylation is a newly discovered post-translational modification induced by lactate. On the one hand, lactylation introduced a new era of lactate metabolism in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and on the other hand, it provided a key breakthrough point for elucidation of the interaction between tumor metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic modification. Studies have shown that the lactylation of tumor cells, tumor stem cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in TME can participate in the development of cancer through downstream transcriptional regulation, and is a potential and promising tumor treatment target. This review summarized the discovery and effects of lactylation, as well as recent research on histone lactylation regulating cancer progression through reshaping TME. We also focused on new strategies to enhance anti-tumor effects via targeting lactylation. Finally, we discussed the limitations of existing studies and proposed new perspectives for future research in order to further explore lactylation targets. It may provide a new way and direction to improve tumor prognosis.

The Effects of Oncological Treatment on Redox Balance in Patients with Uveal Melanoma

(1) Background: Uveal malignant melanoma is the most common adult eye cancer and presents metabolic reprogramming that affects the tumoral microenvironment by altering the redox balance and producing oncometabolites. (2) Methods: The study prospectively evaluated patients undergoing enucleation surgery or stereotactic radiotherapy for uveal melanoma by following systemic oxidative-stress redox markers serum lipid peroxides, total albumin groups and total antioxidant levels (3) Results: Serum antioxidants and lipid peroxides were elevated from pre-treatment to longer-term follow-up. Antioxidants inversely correlated to lipid peroxides: higher in stereotactic radiosurgery patients pre/6/12/18 months post-treatment (p = 0.001-0.049) versus higher lipid peroxides in enucleation surgery patients pre/after/6 months post-treatment (p = 0.004-0.010). An increased variance in serum antioxidants was observed for enucleation surgery patients (p < 0.001), however enucleation did not increase mean serum antioxidants or albumin thiols; only lipid peroxides were increased post-enucleation (p < 0.001) and at 6-month follow-up (p = 0.029). Mean albumin thiols were increased for 18- and 24-month follow-ups (p = 0.017-0.022). Males who had enucleation surgery presented higher variance in serum determinations and overall higher lipid peroxides values pre/post-treatment and at the 18-month follow-up. (4) Conclusions: Initial oxidative stress-inducing events of surgical enucleation or stereotactic radiotherapy for uveal melanoma are followed by a longer-term inflammatory cascade gradually subsiding at later follow-ups.

How Warburg-Associated Lactic Acidosis Rewires Cancer Cell Energy Metabolism to Resist Glucose Deprivation

Lactic acidosis, a hallmark of solid tumour microenvironment, originates from lactate hyperproduction and its co-secretion with protons by cancer cells displaying the Warburg effect. Long considered a side effect of cancer metabolism, lactic acidosis is now known to play a major role in tumour physiology, aggressiveness and treatment efficiency. Growing evidence shows that it promotes cancer cell resistance to glucose deprivation, a common feature of tumours. Here we review the current understanding of how extracellular lactate and acidosis, acting as a combination of enzymatic inhibitors, signal, and nutrient, switch cancer cell metabolism from the Warburg effect to an oxidative metabolic phenotype, which allows cancer cells to withstand glucose deprivation, and makes lactic acidosis a promising anticancer target. We also discuss how the evidence about lactic acidosis' effect could be integrated in the understanding of the whole-tumour metabolism and what perspectives it opens up for future research.