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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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Chen Y, Zhang W, Zeng Y, Yang P, Li Y, Liang X, Liu K, Lin H, Dai Y, Zhou J, Hou B, Ma Z, Lin Y, Pang W, Zeng L. GDNF-induced phosphorylation of MUC21 promotes pancreatic cancer perineural invasion and metastasis by activating RAC2 GTPase. Oncogene 2024; 43:2564-2577. [PMID: 39020072 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03102-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Perineural invasion (PNI) is an adverse prognostic feature of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the understanding of the interactions between tumors and neural signaling within the tumor microenvironment is limited. In the present study, we found that MUC21 servers as an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in PDAC. Furthermore, we demonstrated that MUC21 promoted the metastasis and PNI of PDAC cells by activating JNK and inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically, glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, secreted by Schwann cells, phosphorylates the intracellular domain S543 of MUC21 via CDK1 in PDAC cells, facilitating the interaction between MUC21 and RAC2. This interaction leads to membrane anchoring and activation of RAC2, which in turn activates the JNK/ZEB1/EMT axis, ultimately enhancing the metastasis and PNI of PDAC cells. Our results present a novel mechanism of PNI, suggesting that MUC21 is a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Chen
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Weiyu Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- Center for Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yan Zeng
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Pengfei Yang
- Department of Pathology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yaning Li
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xinyue Liang
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Kecheng Liu
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hai Lin
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yalan Dai
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jiancong Zhou
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bingqi Hou
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhenting Ma
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yujing Lin
- Department of Pathology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wenzheng Pang
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.
| | - Linjuan Zeng
- Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong Province, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Joint Laboratory of Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.
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Kannan B, Pandi C, Pandi A, Jayaseelan VP, Murugan M S, Arumugam P. Altered expression of GLS2 indicates a poor prognosis and correlates with clinicopathological features of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2024; 53:635-643. [PMID: 38342749 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijom.2024.01.011] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Glutamine metabolism, governed by enzymes including glutaminase (GLS1 and GLS2), has a pivotal role in cancer progression. The objective of this study was to determine whether GLS2 transcription levels are associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) when compared to matched adjacent normal tissues. Primary tumour and adjacent normal tissues were collected from 51 OSCC patients, and GLS2 mRNA expression analysis was conducted using real-time qPCR. Additionally, The Cancer Genome Atlas-Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (TCGA-HNSCC) dataset was utilized to examine GLS2 expression in relation to clinicopathological features, the prognosis, and tumour immune cell infiltration. A significantly reduced expression of GLS2 mRNA was found in the OSCC tissues when compared to the matched adjacent normal tissue samples (P < 0.001), which aligned with the results from the TCGA-HNSCC dataset and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, GLS2 mRNA expression was associated with clinicopathological features including tumour stage, grade, and human papillomavirus status (all P < 0.05), predicted a poorer prognosis (P = 0.024), and was correlated with tumour immune cell infiltration (all P < 0.05) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Functional pathway analysis indicated its involvement in cell proliferation and metabolic cycles. GLS2 dysregulation is linked to oral cancer, suggesting its potential as a predictive prognostic marker for OSCC. Furthermore, targeting glutaminases via GLS2 may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for OSCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kannan
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Research, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - C Pandi
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Research, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - A Pandi
- Clinical Genetics Laboratory, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Research, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - V P Jayaseelan
- Clinical Genetics Laboratory, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Research, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S Murugan M
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - P Arumugam
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Research, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
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4
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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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Masoudi M, Moti D, Masoudi R, Auwal A, Hossain MM, Pronoy TUH, Rashel KM, Gopalan V, Islam F. Metabolic adaptations in cancer stem cells: A key to therapy resistance. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167164. [PMID: 38599259 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167164] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of tumor cells that can initiate and sustain tumor growth and cause recurrence and metastasis. CSCs are particularly resistant to conventional therapies compared to their counterparts, owing greatly to their intrinsic metabolic plasticity. Metabolic plasticity allows CSCs to switch between different energy production and usage pathways based on environmental and extrinsic factors, including conditions imposed by conventional cancer therapies. To cope with nutrient deprivation and therapeutic stress, CSCs can transpose between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) metabolism. The mechanism behind the metabolic pathway switch in CSCs is not fully understood, however, some evidence suggests that the tumor microenvironment (TME) may play an influential role mediated by its release of signals, such as Wnt/β-catenin and Notch pathways, as well as a background of hypoxia. Exploring the factors that promote metabolic plasticity in CSCs offers the possibility of eventually developing therapies that may more effectively eliminate the crucial tumor cell subtype and alter the disease course substantially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Masoudi
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, Australia
| | - Dilpreet Moti
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, Australia
| | - Raha Masoudi
- Faculty of Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Abdul Auwal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
| | - M Matakabbir Hossain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
| | - Tasfik Ul Haque Pronoy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
| | - Khan Mohammad Rashel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
| | - Vinod Gopalan
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, Australia
| | - Farhadul Islam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh.
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Hoisington ZW, Salvi A, Laguesse S, Ehinger Y, Shukla C, Phamluong K, Ron D. The small G-protein Rac1 in the dorsomedial striatum promotes alcohol-dependent structural plasticity and goal-directed learning in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.30.555562. [PMID: 37693512 PMCID: PMC10491244 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.30.555562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The small G-protein Rac1 promotes the formation of filamentous actin (F-Actin). Actin is a major component of dendritic spines, and we previously found that alcohol alters actin composition and dendritic spine structure in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the dorsomedial striatum (DMS). To examine if Rac1 contributes to these alcohol-mediated adaptations, we measured the level of GTP-bound active Rac1 in the striatum of mice following 7 weeks of intermittent access to 20% alcohol. We found that chronic alcohol intake activates Rac1 in the DMS of male mice. In contrast, Rac1 is not activated by alcohol in the NAc and DLS of male mice, or in the DMS of female mice. Similarly, closely related small G-proteins are not activated by alcohol in the DMS, and Rac1 activity is not increased in the DMS by moderate alcohol or natural reward. To determine the consequences of alcohol-dependent Rac1 activation in the DMS of male mice, we inhibited endogenous Rac1 by infecting the DMS of mice with an AAV expressing a dominant negative form of the small G-protein (Rac1-DN). We found that overexpression of AAV-Rac1-DN in the DMS inhibits alcohol-mediated Rac1 signaling and attenuates alcohol-mediated F-actin polymerization, which corresponded with a decrease in dendritic arborization and spine maturation. Finally, we provide evidence to suggest that Rac1 in the DMS plays a role in alcohol-associated goal-directed learning. Together, our data suggest that Rac1 in the DMS plays an important role in alcohol-dependent structural plasticity and aberrant learning. Significance Statement Addiction, including alcohol use disorder, is characterized by molecular and cellular adaptations that promote maladaptive behaviors. We found that Rac1 was activated by alcohol in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) of male mice. We show that alcohol-mediated Rac1 signaling is responsible for alterations in actin dynamics and neuronal morphology. We also present data to suggest that Rac1 is important for alcohol-associated learning processes. These results suggest that Rac1 in the DMS is an important contributor to adaptations that promote alcohol use disorder.
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7
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Gao L, Wei Z, Ying F, Huang L, Zhang J, Sun S, Wang Z, Cai J, Zhang Y. Glutamine metabolism prognostic index predicts tumour microenvironment characteristics and therapeutic efficacy in ovarian cancer. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18198. [PMID: 38506093 PMCID: PMC10951877 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18198] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence has highlighted the multifunctional characteristics of glutamine metabolism (GM) in cancer initiation, progression and therapeutic regimens. However, the overall role of GM in the tumour microenvironment (TME), clinical stratification and therapeutic efficacy in patients with ovarian cancer (OC) has not been fully elucidated. Here, three distinct GM clusters were identified and exhibited different prognostic values, biological functions and immune infiltration in TME. Subsequently, glutamine metabolism prognostic index (GMPI) was constructed as a new scoring model to quantify the GM subtypes and was verified as an independent predictor of OC. Patients with low-GMPI exhibited favourable survival outcomes, lower enrichment of several oncogenic pathways, less immunosuppressive cell infiltration and better immunotherapy responses. Single-cell sequencing analysis revealed a unique evolutionary trajectory of OC cells from high-GMPI to low-GMPI, and OC cells with different GMPI might communicate with distinct cell populations through ligand-receptor interactions. Critically, the therapeutic efficacy of several drug candidates was validated based on patient-derived organoids (PDOs). The proposed GMPI could serve as a reliable signature for predicting patient prognosis and contribute to optimising therapeutic strategies for OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union HospitalTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Zheng Wei
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThird Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi HospitalTaiyuanChina
| | - Feiquan Ying
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union HospitalTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Lin Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union HospitalTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Jingni Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union HospitalTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Si Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union HospitalTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Zehua Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union HospitalTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Jing Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union HospitalTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union HospitalTongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
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Chen P, Ye C, Huang Y, Xu B, Wu T, Dong Y, Jin Y, Zhao L, Hu C, Mao J, Wu R. Glutaminolysis regulates endometrial fibrosis in intrauterine adhesion via modulating mitochondrial function. Biol Res 2024; 57:13. [PMID: 38561846 PMCID: PMC10983700 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00492-3] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometrial fibrosis, a significant characteristic of intrauterine adhesion (IUA), is caused by the excessive differentiation and activation of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). Glutaminolysis is the metabolic process of glutamine (Gln), which has been implicated in multiple types of organ fibrosis. So far, little is known about whether glutaminolysis plays a role in endometrial fibrosis. METHODS The activation model of ESCs was constructed by TGF-β1, followed by RNA-sequencing analysis. Changes in glutaminase1 (GLS1) expression at RNA and protein levels in activated ESCs were verified experimentally. Human IUA samples were collected to verify GLS1 expression in endometrial fibrosis. GLS1 inhibitor and glutamine deprivation were applied to ESCs models to investigate the biological functions and mechanisms of glutaminolysis in ESCs activation. The IUA mice model was established to explore the effect of glutaminolysis inhibition on endometrial fibrosis. RESULTS We found that GLS1 expression was significantly increased in activated ESCs models and fibrotic endometrium. Glutaminolysis inhibition by GLS1 inhibitor bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide (BPTES or glutamine deprivation treatment suppressed the expression of two fibrotic markers, α-SMA and collagen I, as well as the mitochondrial function and mTORC1 signaling in ESCs. Furthermore, inhibition of the mTORC1 signaling pathway by rapamycin suppressed ESCs activation. In IUA mice models, BPTES treatment significantly ameliorated endometrial fibrosis and improved pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSION Glutaminolysis and glutaminolysis-associated mTOR signaling play a role in the activation of ESCs and the pathogenesis of endometrial fibrosis through regulating mitochondrial function. Glutaminolysis inhibition suppresses the activation of ESCs, which might be a novel therapeutic strategy for IUA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chaoshuang Ye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunke Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bingning Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianyu Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuanhang Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Jin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Changchang Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingxia Mao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ruijin Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
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9
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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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10
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Song B, Yang P, Zhang S. Cell fate regulation governed by p53: Friends or reversible foes in cancer therapy. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2024; 44:297-360. [PMID: 38311377 PMCID: PMC10958678 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12520] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Targeted therapies aimed at key oncogenic driver mutations in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as immunotherapy have benefited cancer patients considerably. Tumor protein p53 (TP53), a crucial tumor suppressor gene encoding p53, regulates numerous downstream genes and cellular phenotypes in response to various stressors. The affected genes are involved in diverse processes, including cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, cellular senescence, metabolic homeostasis, apoptosis, and autophagy. However, accumulating recent studies have continued to reveal novel and unexpected functions of p53 in governing the fate of tumors, for example, functions in ferroptosis, immunity, the tumor microenvironment and microbiome metabolism. Among the possibilities, the evolutionary plasticity of p53 is the most controversial, partially due to the dizzying array of biological functions that have been attributed to different regulatory mechanisms of p53 signaling. Nearly 40 years after its discovery, this key tumor suppressor remains somewhat enigmatic. The intricate and diverse functions of p53 in regulating cell fate during cancer treatment are only the tip of the iceberg with respect to its equally complicated structural biology, which has been painstakingly revealed. Additionally, TP53 mutation is one of the most significant genetic alterations in cancer, contributing to rapid cancer cell growth and tumor progression. Here, we summarized recent advances that implicate altered p53 in modulating the response to various cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Furthermore, we also discussed potential strategies for targeting p53 as a therapeutic option for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Song
- Laboratory of Radiation MedicineWest China Second University HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
| | - Ping Yang
- Laboratory of Radiation MedicineWest China Second University HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
| | - Shuyu Zhang
- Laboratory of Radiation MedicineWest China Second University HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeChina National Nuclear Corporation 416 HospitalChengduSichuanP. R. China
- Laboratory of Radiation MedicineNHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Technology Medical TransformationWest China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic MedicineSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanP. R. China
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11
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Li X, Peng X, Li Y, Wei S, He G, Liu J, Li X, Yang S, Li D, Lin W, Fang J, Yang L, Li H. Glutamine addiction in tumor cell: oncogene regulation and clinical treatment. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:12. [PMID: 38172980 PMCID: PMC10763057 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01449-x] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
After undergoing metabolic reprogramming, tumor cells consume additional glutamine to produce amino acids, nucleotides, fatty acids, and other substances to facilitate their unlimited proliferation. As such, the metabolism of glutamine is intricately linked to the survival and progression of cancer cells. Consequently, targeting the glutamine metabolism presents a promising strategy to inhibit growth of tumor cell and cancer development. This review describes glutamine uptake, metabolism, and transport in tumor cells and its pivotal role in biosynthesis of amino acids, fatty acids, nucleotides, and more. Furthermore, we have also summarized the impact of oncogenes like C-MYC, KRAS, HIF, and p53 on the regulation of glutamine metabolism and the mechanisms through which glutamine triggers mTORC1 activation. In addition, role of different anti-cancer agents in targeting glutamine metabolism has been described and their prospective applications are assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Xueqiang Peng
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Shibo Wei
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Guangpeng He
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Jiaxing Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Dai Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Weikai Lin
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Jianjun Fang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China
| | - Liang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China.
| | - Hangyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, China.
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12
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Demicco M, Liu XZ, Leithner K, Fendt SM. Metabolic heterogeneity in cancer. Nat Metab 2024; 6:18-38. [PMID: 38267631 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00963-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells rewire their metabolism to survive during cancer progression. In this context, tumour metabolic heterogeneity arises and develops in response to diverse environmental factors. This metabolic heterogeneity contributes to cancer aggressiveness and impacts therapeutic opportunities. In recent years, technical advances allowed direct characterisation of metabolic heterogeneity in tumours. In addition to the metabolic heterogeneity observed in primary tumours, metabolic heterogeneity temporally evolves along with tumour progression. In this Review, we summarize the mechanisms of environment-induced metabolic heterogeneity. In addition, we discuss how cancer metabolism and the key metabolites and enzymes temporally and functionally evolve during the metastatic cascade and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Demicco
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Xiao-Zheng Liu
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katharina Leithner
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sarah-Maria Fendt
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium.
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13
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Bae HL, Jeong K, Yang S, Jun H, Kim K, Chai YJ. Expression Profiles of Hypoxia-Related Genes of Cancers Originating from Anatomically Similar Locations Using TCGA Database Analysis. MEDICINES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 11:2. [PMID: 38248716 PMCID: PMC10819830 DOI: 10.3390/medicines11010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Background: Hypoxia is a well-recognized characteristic of the tumor microenvironment of solid cancers. This study aimed to analyze hypoxia-related genes shared by groups based on tumor location. Methods: A total of 9 hypoxia-related pathways from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database or the Reactome database were selected, and 850 hypoxia-related genes were analyzed. Based on their anatomical locations, 14 tumor types were categorized into 6 groups. The group-specific genetic risk score was classified as high- or low-risk based on mRNA expression, and survival outcomes were evaluated. Results: The risk scores in the Female Reproductive group and the Lung group were internally and externally validated. In the Female Reproductive group, CDKN2A, FN1, and ITGA5 were identified as hub genes associated with poor prognosis, while IL2RB and LEF1 were associated with favorable prognosis. In the Lung group, ITGB1 and LDHA were associated with poor prognosis, and GLS2 was associated with favorable prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the Female Reproductive group was enriched in relation to cilia and skin, while the Lung group was enriched in relation to cytokines and defense. Conclusions: This analysis may lead to better understanding of the mechanisms of cancer progression and facilitate establishing new biomarkers for prognosis prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Lim Bae
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea;
| | - Kyeonghun Jeong
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea;
| | - Suna Yang
- Department of Clinical Medical Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea;
| | - Hyeji Jun
- Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea;
| | - Kwangsoo Kim
- Department of Transdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Institute of Convergence Medicine with Innovative Technology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Jun Chai
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Transdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Institute of Convergence Medicine with Innovative Technology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Surgery, Seoul Metropolitan Government—Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Republic of Korea
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14
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Zhong X, He Z, Yin L, Fan Y, Tong Y, Kang Y, Bi Q. Glutamine metabolism in tumor metastasis: Genes, mechanisms and the therapeutic targets. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20656. [PMID: 37829798 PMCID: PMC10565784 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20656] [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: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells frequently change their metabolism from aerobic glycolysis to lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism to adapt to the malignant biological behaviours of infinite proliferation and distant metastasis. The significance of metabolic substances and patterns in tumour cell metastasis is becoming increasingly prominent. Tumour metastasis involves a series of significant steps such as the shedding of cancer cells from a primary tumour, resistance to apoptosis, and colonisation of metastatic sites. However, the role of glutamine in these processes remains unclear. This review summarises the key enzymes and transporters involved in glutamine metabolism that are related to the pathogenesis of malignant tumour metastasis. We also list the roles of glutamine in resisting oxidative stress and promoting immune escape. Finally, the significance of targeting glutamine metabolism in inhibiting tumour metastasis was proposed, research in this field improving our understanding of amino acid metabolism rewiring and simultaneously bringing about new and exciting therapeutic prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xugang Zhong
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zeju He
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Li Yin
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yong Fan
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yu Tong
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Hangzhou Medical College People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yao Kang
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Hangzhou Medical College People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qing Bi
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Hangzhou Medical College People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
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15
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Jin J, Byun JK, Choi YK, Park KG. Targeting glutamine metabolism as a therapeutic strategy for cancer. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:706-715. [PMID: 37009798 PMCID: PMC10167356 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-00971-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 89.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Proliferating cancer cells rely largely on glutamine for survival and proliferation. Glutamine serves as a carbon source for the synthesis of lipids and metabolites via the TCA cycle, as well as a source of nitrogen for amino acid and nucleotide synthesis. To date, many studies have explored the role of glutamine metabolism in cancer, thereby providing a scientific rationale for targeting glutamine metabolism for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the mechanism(s) involved at each step of glutamine metabolism, from glutamine transporters to redox homeostasis, and highlight areas that can be exploited for clinical cancer treatment. Furthermore, we discuss the mechanisms underlying cancer cell resistance to agents that target glutamine metabolism, as well as strategies for overcoming these mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the effects of glutamine blockade on the tumor microenvironment and explore strategies to maximize the utility of glutamine blockers as a cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonghwa Jin
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, 41944, South Korea
| | - Jun-Kyu Byun
- BK21 FOUR Community-based Intelligent Novel Drug Discovery Education Unit, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Korea
| | - Yeon-Kyung Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, 41404, Korea.
| | - Keun-Gyu Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, 41944, South Korea.
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16
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Caligiuri I, Vincenzo C, Asano T, Kumar V, Rizzolio F. The metabolic crosstalk between PIN1 and the tumour microenvironment. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 91:143-157. [PMID: 36871635 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.03.001] [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: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1) is a member of a family of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases that specifically recognizes and binds phosphoproteins, catalyzing the rapid cis-trans isomerization of phosphorylated serine/threonine-proline motifs, which leads to changes in the structures and activities of the targeted proteins. Through this complex mechanism, PIN1 regulates many hallmarks of cancer including cell autonomous metabolism and the crosstalk with the cellular microenvironment. Many studies showed that PIN1 is largely overexpressed in cancer turning on a set of oncogenes and abrogating the function of tumor suppressor genes. Among these targets, recent evidence demonstrated that PIN1 is involved in lipid and glucose metabolism and accordingly, in the Warburg effect, a characteristic of tumor cells. As an orchestra master, PIN1 finely tunes the signaling pathways allowing cancer cells to adapt and take advantage from a poorly organized tumor microenvironment. In this review, we highlight the trilogy among PIN1, the tumor microenvironment and the metabolic program rewiring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Caligiuri
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Canzonieri Vincenzo
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Tomochiro Asano
- Department of Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Vinit Kumar
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University, Noida 201313, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Flavio Rizzolio
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy; Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, 30123 Venezia, Italy.
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17
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HPV16 E6 and E7 Oncoproteins Stimulate the Glutamine Pathway Maintaining Cell Proliferation in a SNAT1-Dependent Fashion. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020324. [PMID: 36851539 PMCID: PMC9964736 DOI: 10.3390/v15020324] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus infection is the main risk factor for cervical cancer establishment, where the viral oncogenes E6 and E7 promote a cancerous phenotype. Metabolic reprogramming in cancer involves alterations in glutamine metabolism, also named glutaminolysis, to provide energy for supporting cancer processes including migration, proliferation, and production of reactive oxygen species, among others. The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of HPV16 E6 and E7 oncoproteins on the regulation of glutaminolysis and its contribution to cell proliferation. We found that the E6 and E7 oncoproteins exacerbate cell proliferation in a glutamine-dependent manner. Both oncoproteins increased the levels of transporter SNAT1, as well as GLS2 and GS enzymes; E6 also increased LAT1 transporter protein levels, while E7 increased ASCT2 and xCT. Some of these alterations are also regulated at a transcriptional level. Consistently, the amount of SNAT1 protein decreased in Ca Ski cells when E6 and E7 expression was knocked down. In addition, we demonstrated that cell proliferation was partially dependent on SNAT1 in the presence of glutamine. Interestingly, SNAT1 expression was higher in cervical cancer compared with normal cervical cells. The high expression of SNAT1 was associated with poor overall survival of cervical cancer patients. Our results indicate that HPV oncoproteins exacerbate glutaminolysis supporting the malignant phenotype.
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18
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Xu K, Ding J, Zhou L, Li D, Luo J, Wang W, Shang M, Lin B, Zhou L, Zheng S. SMYD2 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Reprogramming Glutamine Metabolism via c-Myc/GLS1 Axis. Cells 2022; 12:cells12010025. [PMID: 36611819 PMCID: PMC9818721 DOI: 10.3390/cells12010025] [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: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming, such as alterations in glutamine metabolism or glycolysis, is the hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying mechanisms are still incompletely elucidated. Previous studies have identified that methyltransferase SET and MYND domain-containing protein 2(SMYD2) is responsible for the pathogenesis of numerous types of cancer. Here, we innovatively uncover how SMYD2 regulates glutamine metabolism in HCC cells and promotes HCC progression. We identified that SMYD2 expression is upregulated in HCC tissues, which correlates with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Our in vitro and in vivo results showed that the depletion of SMYD2 inhibits HCC cell growth. Mechanistically, c-Myc methylation by SMYD2 increases its protein stability through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. We showed SMYD2 depletion destabilized c-Myc protein by increasing the conjugated K48-linked polyubiquitin chain. SMYD2 increased c-Myc expression and further upregulated glutaminase1 (GLS1), a crucial enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of glutamine to glutamic acid, in HCC cells. GLS1 plays an important role in SMYD2-mediated HCC progression and glutamine metabolism regulation. The knockdown of SMYD2 inhibited glutamine metabolism in HCC cells and overcame their chemoresistance to sorafenib. Collectively, our findings demonstrated a novel mechanism of how SMYD2 promotes HCC progression by regulating glutamine metabolism through the c-Myc/GLS1signaling, implicating the therapeutic potential of targeting SMYD2 in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangdi Xu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO.79 Qing Chun Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Jun Ding
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO.79 Qing Chun Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Lingfeng Zhou
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO.79 Qing Chun Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Dazhi Li
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO.79 Qing Chun Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Jia Luo
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO.79 Qing Chun Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Wenchao Wang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO.79 Qing Chun Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Mingge Shang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO.79 Qing Chun Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Bingyi Lin
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO.79 Qing Chun Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO.79 Qing Chun Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Correspondence: (L.Z.); (S.Z.); Tel.: +86-0571-87236466 (L.Z.); +86-0571-87236570 (S.Z.)
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, NO.79 Qing Chun Road, Hangzhou 310006, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Correspondence: (L.Z.); (S.Z.); Tel.: +86-0571-87236466 (L.Z.); +86-0571-87236570 (S.Z.)
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19
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Liu J, Zhang C, Zhang T, Chang CY, Wang J, Bazile L, Zhang L, Haffty BG, Hu W, Feng Z. Metabolic enzyme LDHA activates Rac1 GTPase as a noncanonical mechanism to promote cancer. Nat Metab 2022; 4:1830-1846. [PMID: 36536137 PMCID: PMC9794117 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00708-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The glycolytic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) is frequently overexpressed in cancer, which promotes glycolysis and cancer. The oncogenic effect of LDHA has been attributed to its glycolytic enzyme activity. Here we report an unexpected noncanonical oncogenic mechanism of LDHA; LDHA activates small GTPase Rac1 to promote cancer independently of its glycolytic enzyme activity. Mechanistically, LDHA interacts with the active form of Rac1, Rac1-GTP, to inhibit Rac1-GTP interaction with its negative regulator, GTPase-activating proteins, leading to Rac1 activation in cancer cells and mouse tissues. In clinical breast cancer specimens, LDHA overexpression is associated with higher Rac1 activity. Rac1 inhibition suppresses the oncogenic effect of LDHA. Combination inhibition of LDHA enzyme activity and Rac1 activity by small-molecule inhibitors displays a synergistic inhibitory effect on breast cancers with LDHA overexpression. These results reveal a critical oncogenic mechanism of LDHA and suggest a promising therapeutic strategy for breast cancers with LDHA overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Cen Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Tianliang Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Chun-Yuan Chang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Jianming Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Ludvinna Bazile
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Lanjing Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
- Department of Pathology, Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro, NJ, USA
| | - Bruce G Haffty
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Wenwei Hu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Zhaohui Feng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
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Roh J, Im M, Chae Y, Kang J, Kim W. The Involvement of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Glutamine-Metabolic Reprogramming and Therapeutic Resistance in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314808. [PMID: 36499136 PMCID: PMC9738059 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314808] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic alterations that support the supply of biosynthetic molecules necessary for rapid and sustained proliferation are characteristic of cancer. Some cancer cells rely on glutamine to maintain their energy requirements for growth. Glutamine is an important metabolite in cells because it not only links to the tricarboxylic acid cycle by producing α-ketoglutarate by glutaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase but also supplies other non-essential amino acids, fatty acids, and components of nucleotide synthesis. Altered glutamine metabolism is associated with cancer cell survival, proliferation, metastasis, and aggression. Furthermore, altered glutamine metabolism is known to be involved in therapeutic resistance. In recent studies, lncRNAs were shown to act on amino acid transporters and glutamine-metabolic enzymes, resulting in the regulation of glutamine metabolism. The lncRNAs involved in the expression of the transporters include the abhydrolase domain containing 11 antisense RNA 1, LINC00857, plasmacytoma variant translocation 1, Myc-induced long non-coding RNA, and opa interacting protein 5 antisense RNA 1, all of which play oncogenic roles. When it comes to the regulation of glutamine-metabolic enzymes, several lncRNAs, including nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1, XLOC_006390, urothelial cancer associated 1, and thymopoietin antisense RNA 1, show oncogenic activities, and others such as antisense lncRNA of glutaminase, lincRNA-p21, and ataxin 8 opposite strand serve as tumor suppressors. In addition, glutamine-dependent cancer cells with lncRNA dysregulation promote cell survival, proliferation, and metastasis by increasing chemo- and radio-resistance. Therefore, understanding the roles of lncRNAs in glutamine metabolism will be helpful for the establishment of therapeutic strategies for glutamine-dependent cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungwook Roh
- Department of Science Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju-si 28173, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Mijung Im
- Department of Science Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju-si 28173, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeonsoo Chae
- Department of Science Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju-si 28173, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - JiHoon Kang
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Wanyeon Kim
- Department of Science Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju-si 28173, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Cheongju-si 28173, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-43-230-3750
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21
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Jin S, Cao J, Kong LB. Identification and validation in a novel quantification system of the glutamine metabolism patterns for the prediction of prognosis and therapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 13:2505-2521. [PMID: 36388696 PMCID: PMC9660061 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-22-895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has one of the highest mortality rates worldwide. Abnormal glutamine metabolism (GM) has been reported to be involved in HCC progression. The current study sought to examine the predictive value of GM in HCC patient's prognosis and therapy response. METHODS The RNA-sequencing data and clinical information of HCC samples were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database (N=377) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (N=242). By analyzing a data set from TCGA, we showed that the GM landscape of HCC patients was developed based on the non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithm. Univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-penalized Cox regression analyses were used to construct a risk model. The accuracy of the model, which was based on the GM-related genes (GMRGs), was verified by Kaplan-Meier (K-M) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. We also verified the reliability of the model based on GEO data. Finally, the immune infiltration analysis, pathway enrichment analysis, and treatment response prediction results were compared to each other in the 2 risk groups. RESULTS In our study, the HCC samples were divided into 2 GM-related patterns; that is, C1 and C2. The multi-analysis revealed that the GM-related patterns were associated with the pathologic stage, T stages, N stages, histologic grade, and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Next, the prognostic model containing 5 GMRGs (i.e., aldehyde dehydrogenase 5 family member A1, ASNSD1, carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1, GMPS, and PPAT) was constructed to calculate the risk score. The high-risk group of HCC patients had significantly worse overall survival (OS) than the low-risk group in both datasets (P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression uncover the riskScores may serve as an independent prognostic marker for HCC patients [TCGA: hazard ratio (HR) =2.909 (1.940-4.362), P<0.001; GEO: HR =2.911 (1.753-5.848), P=0.043]. Finally, we found that the prognostic model was significantly correlated with the pathologic stage and TIME of the HCC patients in both databases. Moreover, the prognostic model may guide the immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drugs choice. CONCLUSIONS In summary, we developed a GM-related 5-gene risk-score model, which may be a useful tool for predicting prognosis and guiding the treatment of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjie Jin
- Liver and Cholecyst Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Cao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Lian-Bao Kong
- Liver and Cholecyst Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Suzuki S, Venkatesh D, Kanda H, Nakayama A, Hosokawa H, Lee E, Miki T, Stockwell BR, Yokote K, Tanaka T, Prives C. GLS2 Is a Tumor Suppressor and a Regulator of Ferroptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancer Res 2022; 82:3209-3222. [PMID: 35895807 PMCID: PMC11057045 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-3914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Glutamine synthase 2 (GLS2) is a key regulator of glutaminolysis and has been previously implicated in activities consistent with tumor suppression. Here we generated Gls2 knockout (KO) mice that develop late-occurring B-cell lymphomas and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Further, Gls2 KO mice subjected to the hepatocarcinogenic Stelic Animal Model (STAM) protocol produce larger HCC tumors than seen in wild-type (WT) mice. GLS2 has been shown to promote ferroptosis, a form of cell death characterized by iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxides. In line with this, GLS2 deficiency, either in cells derived from Gls2 KO mice or in human cancer cells depleted of GLS2, conferred significant resistance to ferroptosis. Mechanistically, GLS2, but not GLS1, increased lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by facilitating the conversion of glutamate to α-ketoglutarate (αKG), thereby promoting ferroptosis. Ectopic expression of WT GLS2 in a human hepatic adenocarcinoma xenograft model significantly reduced tumor size; this effect was nullified by either expressing a catalytically inactive form of GLS2 or by blocking ferroptosis. Furthermore, analysis of cancer patient datasets supported a role for GLS2-mediated regulation of ferroptosis in human tumor suppression. These data suggest that GLS2 is a bona fide tumor suppressor and that its ability to favor ferroptosis by regulating glutaminolysis contributes to its tumor suppressive function. SIGNIFICANCE This study demonstrates that the key regulator of glutaminolysis, GLS2, can limit HCC in vivo by promoting ferroptosis through αKG-dependent lipid ROS, which in turn might lay the foundation for a novel therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sawako Suzuki
- Department of Endocrinology, Hematology and Gerontology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Divya Venkatesh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Hiroaki Kanda
- Department of Pathology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Akitoshi Nakayama
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hosokawa
- Department of Immunology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Eunyoung Lee
- Department of Medical Physiology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takashi Miki
- Department of Medical Physiology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Brent R. Stockwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Koutaro Yokote
- Department of Endocrinology, Hematology and Gerontology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Tanaka
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Carol Prives
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA
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23
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Targeting Glutaminase by Natural Compounds: Structure-Based Virtual Screening and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Approach to Suppress Cancer Progression. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27155042. [PMID: 35956989 PMCID: PMC9370672 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27155042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells change their glucose and glutamine (GLU) metabolism to obtain the energy required to continue growing. Glutaminase (GLS) plays a crucial role in promoting cell metabolism for cancer cell growth; targeting GLU metabolism by inhibiting GLS has attracted interest as a potential cancer management strategy. Herein, we employed a sequential screening of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) database followed by drug-likeness and molecular dynamics simulations against the active site of GLS. We report 12 potent compounds after screening the TCM database against GLS, followed by a drug-likeness filter with Lipinski and Veber rule criteria. Among them, ZINC03978829 and ZINC32296657 were found to have higher binding energy (BE) values than the control compound 6-Diazo-5-Oxo-L-Norleucine, with BEs of -9.3 and -9.7 kcal/mol, respectively, compared to the BE of 6-Diazo-5-Oxo-L-Norleucine (-4.7 kcal/mol) with GLS. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to evaluate the results further, and a 100 ns MD simulation revealed that the hits form stable complexes with GLS and formed 2-5 hydrogen bond interactions. This study indicates that these hits might be employed as GLS inhibitors in the battle against cancer. However, more laboratory tests are a prerequisite to optimize them as GLS inhibitors.
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24
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Hisada R, Yoshida N, Orite SYK, Umeda M, Burbano C, Scherlinger M, Kono M, Krishfield S, Tsokos GC. Role of Glutaminase 2 in Promoting CD4+ T Cell Production of Interleukin-2 by Supporting Antioxidant Defense in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Rheumatol 2022; 74:1204-1210. [PMID: 35254008 PMCID: PMC10938244 DOI: 10.1002/art.42112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Glutaminase (GLS) isoenzymes GLS1 and GLS2 catalyze the first step of glutaminolysis. GLS1 is requisite for Th17 cell differentiation, and its inhibition suppresses autoimmune disease in animals, but the function of GLS2 is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of GLS2 in CD4+ T cell function and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. METHODS We measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial mass and polarization by flow cytometry, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by a dual luciferase assay, and CpG DNA methylation of Il2 by a real-time polymerase chain reaction system. The impact of the overexpression of wild-type GLS1, wild-type GLS2, or mutated GLS2 at the PDZ domain-binding motif in CD4+ T cells was examined. Furthermore, GLS2 expression in CD4+ T cells from lupus-prone mice and patients with SLE was analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS GLS2, but not GLS1, reduced ROS levels and lipid peroxidation and restored mitochondrial function in T cells. GLS2 promoted IL-2 production through the demethylation of the Il2 promoter. Mutation of the PDZ domain-binding motif abated the ability of GLS2 to regulate IL-2 and ROS levels. In lupus-prone mice and patients with SLE, the expression of GLS2 was decreased in CD4+ T cells. Finally, GLS2 overexpression corrected ROS levels and restored IL-2 production by CD4+ T cells from lupus-prone mice and SLE patients. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that GLS2 has a crucial role in IL-2 production by CD4+ T cells by supporting antioxidant defense, and they offer a new approach to correcting IL-2 production by T cells in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Hisada
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nobuya Yoshida
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Seo Yeon K Orite
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Masataka Umeda
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Catalina Burbano
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marc Scherlinger
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michihito Kono
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Suzanne Krishfield
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - George C Tsokos
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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25
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Zhang T, Cui Y, Wu Y, Meng J, Han L, Zhang J, Zhang C, Yang C, Chen L, Bai X, Zhang K, Wu K, Sack MN, Wang L, Zhu L. Mitochondrial GCN5L1 regulates glutaminase acetylation and hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e852. [PMID: 35538890 PMCID: PMC9091986 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutaminolysis is a critical metabolic process that promotes cancer cell proliferation, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Delineating the molecular control of glutaminolysis could identify novel targets to ameliorate this oncogenic metabolic pathway. Here, we evaluated the role of general control of amino acid synthesis 5 like 1 (GCN5L1), a regulator of mitochondrial protein acetylation, in modulating the acetylation and activity of glutaminase to regulate HCC development. METHODS Cell proliferation was determined by MTT, 2D and soft agar clone formation assays and orthotopic tumour assays in nude mice. GLS1/2 acetylation and activities were measured in cells and tumours to analyse the correlation with GCN5L1 expression and mTORC1 activation. RESULTS Hepatic GCN5L1 ablation in mice markedly increased diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC, and conversely, the transduction of mitochondrial-restricted GCN5L1 protected wild-type mice against HCC progression in response to DEN and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) exposure. GCN5L1-depleted HepG2 hepatocytes enhanced tumour growth in athymic nude mice. Mechanistically, GCN5L1 depletion promoted cell proliferation through mTORC1 activation. Interestingly, liver-enriched glutaminase 2 (GLS2) appears to play a greater role than ubiquitous and canonical tumour-enriched glutaminase 1 (GLS1) in promoting murine HCC. Concurrently, GCN5L1 promotes acetylation and inactivation of both isoforms and increases enzyme oligomerisation. In human HCC tumours compared to adjacent tissue, there were variable levels of mTORC1 activation, GCN5L1 levels and glutaminase activity. Interestingly, the levels of GCN5L1 inversely correlated with mTORC1 activity and glutaminase activity in these tumours. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified that glutaminase activity, rather than GLS1 or GLS2 expression, is the key factor in HCC development that activates mTORC1 and promotes HCC. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis of liver cancer, we found that HCC patients with high GCN5L1 expression survived longer than those with low GCN5L1 expression. Collectively, GCN5L1 functions as a tumour regulator by modulating glutaminase acetylation and activity in the development of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taotao Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammatory Biology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yunlong Cui
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanjin Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammatory Biology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiahui Meng
- Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammatory Biology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Linmeng Han
- Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammatory Biology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Major Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Chunyu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammatory Biology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Chenxi Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammatory Biology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xue Bai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kaiyuan Wu
- Laboratory of Mitochondrial Biology and Metabolism, NHLBI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael N Sack
- Laboratory of Mitochondrial Biology and Metabolism, NHLBI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lingdi Wang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis and Major Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lu Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammatory Biology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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26
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Yin F, Nian M, Wang N, Wu H, Wu H, Zhao W, Cao S, Wu P, Zhou A. Protective Mechanism of Gandou Decoction in a Copper-Laden Hepatolenticular Degeneration Model: In Vitro Pharmacology and Cell Metabolomics. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:848897. [PMID: 35401189 PMCID: PMC8984159 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.848897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Gandou decoction (GDD) is a classic prescription for the treatment of hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD) in China; however, the liver-protecting mechanism of this prescription needs further evaluation. In the present study, we explored the protective mechanisms of GDD in a copper-laden HLD model using integrated pharmacology and cellular metabolomics in vitro. The results revealed that GDD could significantly promote copper excretion in copper-laden HLD model cells and improve the ultrastructural changes in hepatocytes. In addition, GDD could decrease the extent of lipid peroxidation, levels of reactive oxygen species, and the release rate of lactate dehydrogenase while increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase and the ratio of glutathione to oxidized glutathione in the copper-laden HLD model cells. On conducting statistical analysis of significant metabolic changes, 47 biomarkers and 30 related metabolic pathways were screened as pharmacological reactions induced by GDD in HLD model cells. d-glutamate and d-glutamine metabolic pathways showed the highest importance and significance among the 30 metabolic pathways, and the differential expression levels of the glutamine synthetase (GS) and the renal type and liver type GLS (GLS1 and GLS2) proteins were verified by Western blotting. Collectively, our data established the underlying mechanism of GDD therapy, such as the promotion of copper excretion and improvement in oxidative stress by regulating the expressions of GS, GLS1, and GLS2 protein to protect hepatocytes from injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengxia Yin
- The Experimental Research Center, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Mengnan Nian
- The Experimental Research Center, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Na Wang
- The Experimental Research Center, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Hongfei Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Chinese Medicine, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, China
| | - Huan Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Chinese Medicine, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, China
| | - Wenchen Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Shijian Cao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Peng Wu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Chinese Medicine, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, China
| | - An Zhou
- The Experimental Research Center, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Chinese Medicine, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, China
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27
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Wang S, Yan Y, Xu WJ, Gong SG, Zhong XJ, An QY, Zhao YL, Liu JM, Wang L, Yuan P, Jiang R. The Role of Glutamine and Glutaminase in Pulmonary Hypertension. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:838657. [PMID: 35310969 PMCID: PMC8924297 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.838657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) refers to a clinical and pathophysiological syndrome in which pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial pressure are increased due to structural or functional changes in pulmonary vasculature caused by a variety of etiologies and different pathogenic mechanisms. It is followed by the development of right heart failure and even death. In recent years, most studies have found that PH and cancer shared a complex common pathological metabolic disturbance, such as the shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. During the shifting process, there is an upregulation of glutamine decomposition driven by glutaminase. However, the relationship between PH and glutamine hydrolysis, especially by glutaminase is yet unclear. This review aims to explore the special linking among glutamine hydrolysis, glutaminase and PH, so as to provide theoretical basis for clinical precision treatment in PH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang Wang
- Department of Cardio-Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Yan
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Wei-Jie Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Su-Gang Gong
- Department of Cardio-Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiu-Jun Zhong
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qin-Yan An
- Department of Respiratory, Sijing Hospital of Songjiang District, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Lin Zhao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China
| | - Jin-Ming Liu
- Department of Cardio-Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lan Wang
- Department of Cardio-Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Yuan
- Department of Cardio-Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Ping Yuan,
| | - Rong Jiang
- Department of Cardio-Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Rong Jiang,
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Foxo3a tempers excessive glutaminolysis in activated T cells to prevent fatal gut inflammation in the murine IL-10 -/- model of colitis. Cell Death Differ 2022; 29:585-599. [PMID: 34588632 PMCID: PMC8901686 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00876-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in susceptibility alleles correlate with gut-inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's disease; however, this does not often impact the disease progression indicating the existence of compensatory genes. We show that a reduction in Foxo3a expression in IL-10-deficient mice results in a spontaneous and aggressive Crohn's- like disease with 100% penetrance, which is rescued by deletion of myeloid cells, T cells and inhibition of mTORC1. In Foxo3a-/- IL-10-/- mice, there is poor cell death of myeloid cells in the gut, leading to increased accumulation of myeloid and T cells in the gut. Myeloid cells express high levels of inflammatory cytokines, and regulatory T cells are dysfunctional despite increased abundance. Foxo3a signaling represses the transcription of glutaminase (GLS/GLS2) to prevent over-consumption of glutamine by activated T cells and its conversion to glutamate that contributes to the TCA cycle and mTORC1 activation. Finally, we show that Foxo3a restricts the abundance of colitogenic microbiota in IL-10-deficient mice. Thus, by suppressing glutaminolysis in activated T cells Foxo3a mediates a critical checkpoint that prevents the development of fulminant gut inflammatory disease.
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29
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Sharma S, Agnihotri N, Kumar S. Targeting fuel pocket of cancer cell metabolism: A focus on glutaminolysis. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 198:114943. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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30
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Inhibition of Rac1 attenuates radiation-induced lung injury while suppresses lung tumor in mice. Cell Death Dis 2022; 8:26. [PMID: 35031595 PMCID: PMC8760284 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00791-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The lung is one of the most sensitive tissues to ionizing radiation, thus, radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) stays a key dose-limiting factor of thoracic radiotherapy. However, there is still little progress in the effective treatment of RILI. Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate1, Rac1, is a small guanosine triphosphatases involved in oxidative stress and apoptosis. Thus, Rac1 may be an important molecule that mediates radiation damage, inhibition of which may produce a protective effect on RILI. By establishing a mouse model of radiation-induced lung injury and orthotopic lung tumor-bearing mouse model, we detected the role of Rac1 inhibition in the protection of RILI and suppression of lung tumor. The results showed that ionizing radiation induces the nuclear translocation of Rac1, the latter then promotes nuclear translocation of P53 and prolongs the residence time of p53 in the nucleus, thereby promoting the transcription of Trp53inp1 which mediates p53-dependent apoptosis. Inhibition of Rac1 significantly reduce the apoptosis of normal lung epithelial cells, thereby effectively alleviating RILI. On the other hand, inhibition of Rac1 could also significantly inhibit the growth of lung tumor, increase the radiation sensitivity of tumor cells. These differential effects of Rac1 inhibition were related to the mutation and overexpression of Rac1 in tumor cells.
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Glutamine-Derived Aspartate Biosynthesis in Cancer Cells: Role of Mitochondrial Transporters and New Therapeutic Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14010245. [PMID: 35008407 PMCID: PMC8750728 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In recent years, aspartate has been increasingly acknowledged as a critical player in the metabolism of cancer cells which use this metabolite for nucleotide and protein synthesis and for redox homeostasis. Most intracellular aspartate derives from the mitochondrial catabolism of glutamine. To date at least four mitochondrial transporters have been involved in this metabolic pathway. Their involvement appears to be cancer type-specific and dependent on glutamine availability. Targeting these mitochondrial transporters may represent a new attractive strategy to fight cancer. The aim of this review is to dissect the role of each of these transporters in relation to the type of cancer and the availability of nutrients in the tumoral microenvironment. Abstract Aspartate has a central role in cancer cell metabolism. Aspartate cytosolic availability is crucial for protein and nucleotide biosynthesis as well as for redox homeostasis. Since tumor cells display poor aspartate uptake from the external environment, most of the cellular pool of aspartate derives from mitochondrial catabolism of glutamine. At least four transporters are involved in this metabolic pathway: the glutamine (SLC1A5_var), the aspartate/glutamate (AGC), the aspartate/phosphate (uncoupling protein 2, UCP2), and the glutamate (GC) carriers, the last three belonging to the mitochondrial carrier family (MCF). The loss of one of these transporters causes a paucity of cytosolic aspartate and an arrest of cell proliferation in many different cancer types. The aim of this review is to clarify why different cancers have varying dependencies on metabolite transporters to support cytosolic glutamine-derived aspartate availability. Dissecting the precise metabolic routes that glutamine undergoes in specific tumor types is of upmost importance as it promises to unveil the best metabolic target for therapeutic intervention.
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p53: A Double-Edged Sword in Tumor Ferroptosis. Pharmacol Res 2021; 177:106013. [PMID: 34856333 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.106013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a type of lipid peroxidation-induced cell death that can be regulated in various ways, from changing the activity of antioxidant enzymes to the levels of transcription factors. The p53 tumor suppressor gene is the "guardian of the genome" and is involved in controlling cell survival and division under various pressures. In addition to its effects on apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle, p53, through the way of transcription dependent or independent two-way, also regulates the biological processes of tumor cell sensitivity to ferroptosis, including the metabolism of amino acids, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, and lipid peroxidation, as well as the biosynthesis of glutathione, phospholipids, NADPH and coenzyme Q10.As reviewed here, we summarized the metabolic network of p53 and its signaling pathway in regulating ferroptosis and elucidated possible factors and potential clinical application of p53 regulating ferroptosis. This review will provide a basis for further understanding the role of p53 in tumor ferroptosis and new strategies for cancer therapeutic avenues.
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Zhang C, Liu J, Xu D, Zhang T, Hu W, Feng Z. Gain-of-function mutant p53 in cancer progression and therapy. J Mol Cell Biol 2021; 12:674-687. [PMID: 32722796 PMCID: PMC7749743 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjaa040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
p53 is a key tumor suppressor, and loss of p53 function is frequently a prerequisite for cancer development. The p53 gene is the most frequently mutated gene in human cancers; p53 mutations occur in >50% of all human cancers and in almost every type of human cancers. Most of p53 mutations in cancers are missense mutations, which produce the full-length mutant p53 (mutp53) protein with only one amino acid difference from wild-type p53 protein. In addition to loss of the tumor-suppressive function of wild-type p53, many mutp53 proteins acquire new oncogenic activities independently of wild-type p53 to promote cancer progression, termed gain-of-function (GOF). Mutp53 protein often accumulates to very high levels in cancer cells, which is critical for its GOF. Given the high mutation frequency of the p53 gene and the GOF activities of mutp53 in cancer, therapies targeting mutp53 have attracted great interest. Further understanding the mechanisms underlying mutp53 protein accumulation and GOF will help develop effective therapies treating human cancers containing mutp53. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the studies on mutp53 regulation and GOF as well as therapies targeting mutp53 in human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cen Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - Juan Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - Dandan Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - Tianliang Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - Wenwei Hu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
| | - Zhaohui Feng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
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Zou J, Du K, Li S, Lu L, Mei J, Lin W, Deng M, Wei W, Guo R. Glutamine Metabolism Regulators Associated with Cancer Development and the Tumor Microenvironment: A Pan-Cancer Multi-Omics Analysis. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1305. [PMID: 34573287 PMCID: PMC8466418 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, metabolic reprogramming has been identified as a hallmark of cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that glutamine metabolism plays a crucial role in oncogenesis and the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we aimed to perform a systematic and comprehensive analysis of six key metabolic node genes involved in the dynamic regulation of glutamine metabolism (referred to as GLNM regulators) across 33 types of cancer. METHODS We analyzed the gene expression, epigenetic regulation, and genomic alterations of six key GLNM regulators, including SLC1A5, SLC7A5, SLC3A2, SLC7A11, GLS, and GLS2, in pan-cancer using several open-source platforms and databases. Additionally, we investigated the impacts of these gene expression changes on clinical outcomes, drug sensitivity, and the tumor microenvironment. We also attempted to investigate the upstream microRNA-mRNA molecular networks and the downstream signaling pathways involved in order to uncover the potential molecular mechanisms behind metabolic reprogramming. RESULTS We found that the expression levels of GLNM regulators varied across cancer types and were related to several genomic and immunological characteristics. While the immune scores were generally lower in the tumors with higher gene expression, the types of immune cell infiltration showed significantly different correlations among cancer types, dividing them into two clusters. Furthermore, we showed that elevated GLNM regulators expression was associated with poor overall survival in the majority of cancer types. Lastly, the expression of GLNM regulators was significantly associated with PD-L1 expression and drug sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS The elevated expression of GLNM regulators was associated with poorer cancer prognoses and a cold tumor microenvironment, providing novel insights into cancer treatment and possibly offering alternative options for the treatment of clinically refractory cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Zou
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (J.Z.); (S.L.); (L.L.); (J.M.); (W.L.); (M.D.); (W.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Kunpeng Du
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510095, China;
| | - Shaohua Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (J.Z.); (S.L.); (L.L.); (J.M.); (W.L.); (M.D.); (W.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Lianghe Lu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (J.Z.); (S.L.); (L.L.); (J.M.); (W.L.); (M.D.); (W.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jie Mei
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (J.Z.); (S.L.); (L.L.); (J.M.); (W.L.); (M.D.); (W.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Wenping Lin
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (J.Z.); (S.L.); (L.L.); (J.M.); (W.L.); (M.D.); (W.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Min Deng
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (J.Z.); (S.L.); (L.L.); (J.M.); (W.L.); (M.D.); (W.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (J.Z.); (S.L.); (L.L.); (J.M.); (W.L.); (M.D.); (W.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Rongping Guo
- Department of Liver Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China; (J.Z.); (S.L.); (L.L.); (J.M.); (W.L.); (M.D.); (W.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China
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Masisi BK, El Ansari R, Alfarsi L, Craze ML, Jewa N, Oldfield A, Cheung H, Toss M, Rakha EA, Green AR. The Biological and Clinical Significance of Glutaminase in Luminal Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13163963. [PMID: 34439127 PMCID: PMC8391318 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13163963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Certain nutrients are needed by cancers to grow. Some breast cancers need the nutrient glutamine to grow and without it they don’t grow as quickly. In this study, we wanted to know the role of an enzyme, glutaminase, which is a substance produced by the body that breaks down glutamine so it can be used by cancers to grow. This enzyme occurs as two different types but we don’t know what their roles are in breast cancer. We therefore looked at the two types of enzyme in over 7000 breast cancers. We found that patients with high amounts of enzyme in early forms of breast cancer died earlier. Therefore, this enzyme has an important role in breast cancer and could be used to identify cancers which will get worse. We also think that using a drug to stop this enzyme will stop cancers growing. More studies are needed to confirm this. Abstract The glutamine metabolism has a key role in the regulation of uncontrolled tumour growth. This study aimed to evaluate the expression and prognostic significance of glutaminase in luminal breast cancer (BC). The glutaminase isoforms (GLS/GLS2) were assessed at genomic/transcriptomic levels, using METABRIC (n = 1398) and GeneMiner datasets (n = 4712), and protein using immunohistochemistry in well-characterised cohorts of Oestrogen receptor-positive/HER2-negative BC patients: ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS; n = 206) and invasive breast cancer (IBC; n = 717). Glutaminase expression was associated with clinicopathological features, patient outcome and glutamine-metabolism-related genes. In DCIS, GLS alone and GLS+/GLS2- expression were risk factors for shorter local recurrence-free interval (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.001, respectively) and remained prognostic factors independent of tumour size, grade and comedo necrosis (p = 0.0008 and p = 0.003, respectively). In IBC, GLS gene copy number gain with high mRNA expression was associated with poor patient outcome (p = 0.011), whereas high GLS2 protein was predictive of a longer disease-free survival (p = 0.006). Glutaminase plays a role in the biological function of luminal BC, particularly GLS in the early non-invasive stage, which could be used as a potential biomarker to predict disease progression and a target for inhibition. Further validation is required to confirm these observations, and functional assessments are needed to explore their specific roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendah K. Masisi
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Academic Unit for Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (B.K.M.); (R.E.A.); (L.A.); (M.L.C.); (N.J.); (A.O.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (E.A.R.)
| | - Rokaya El Ansari
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Academic Unit for Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (B.K.M.); (R.E.A.); (L.A.); (M.L.C.); (N.J.); (A.O.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (E.A.R.)
| | - Lutfi Alfarsi
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Academic Unit for Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (B.K.M.); (R.E.A.); (L.A.); (M.L.C.); (N.J.); (A.O.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (E.A.R.)
| | - Madeleine L. Craze
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Academic Unit for Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (B.K.M.); (R.E.A.); (L.A.); (M.L.C.); (N.J.); (A.O.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (E.A.R.)
| | - Natasha Jewa
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Academic Unit for Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (B.K.M.); (R.E.A.); (L.A.); (M.L.C.); (N.J.); (A.O.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (E.A.R.)
| | - Andrew Oldfield
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Academic Unit for Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (B.K.M.); (R.E.A.); (L.A.); (M.L.C.); (N.J.); (A.O.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (E.A.R.)
| | - Hayley Cheung
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Academic Unit for Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (B.K.M.); (R.E.A.); (L.A.); (M.L.C.); (N.J.); (A.O.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (E.A.R.)
| | - Michael Toss
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Academic Unit for Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (B.K.M.); (R.E.A.); (L.A.); (M.L.C.); (N.J.); (A.O.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (E.A.R.)
| | - Emad A. Rakha
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Academic Unit for Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (B.K.M.); (R.E.A.); (L.A.); (M.L.C.); (N.J.); (A.O.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (E.A.R.)
- Cellular Pathology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Andrew R. Green
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Academic Unit for Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (B.K.M.); (R.E.A.); (L.A.); (M.L.C.); (N.J.); (A.O.); (H.C.); (M.T.); (E.A.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-1158231407
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Ghasemishahrestani Z, Melo Mattos LM, Tilli TM, Santos ALSD, Pereira MD. Pieces of the Complex Puzzle of Cancer Cell Energy Metabolism: An Overview of Energy Metabolism and Alternatives for Targeted Cancer Therapy. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:3514-3534. [PMID: 32814521 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327999200819123357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decades, several advances in cancer cell biology have led to relevant details about a phenomenon called the 'Warburg effect'. Currently, it has been accepted that the Warburg effect is not compatible with all cancer cells, and thus the process of aerobic glycolysis is now challenged by the knowledge of a large number of cells presenting mitochondrial function. The energy metabolism of cancer cells is focused on the bioenergetic and biosynthetic pathways in order to meet the requirements of rapid proliferation. Changes in the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids and lipids have already been reported for cancer cells and this might play an important role in cancer progression. To the best of our knowledge, these changes are mainly attributed to genetic reprogramming which leads to the transformation of a healthy into a cancerous cell. Indeed, several enzymes that are highly relevant for cellular energy are targets of oncogenes (e.g. PI3K, HIF1, and Myc) and tumor suppressor proteins (e.g. p53). As a consequence of extensive studies on cancer cell metabolism, some new therapeutic strategies have appeared that aim to interrupt the aberrant metabolism, in addition to influencing genetic reprogramming in cancer cells. In this review, we present an overview of cancer cell metabolism (carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid), and also describe oncogenes and tumor suppressors that directly affect the metabolism. We also discuss some of the potential therapeutic candidates which have been designed to target and disrupt the main driving forces associated with cancer cell metabolism and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Ghasemishahrestani
- Departamento de Bioquimica, Instituto de Quimica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Larissa Maura Melo Mattos
- Departamento de Bioquimica, Instituto de Quimica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Martins Tilli
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnologico em Saude, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André Luis Souza Dos Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Dias Pereira
- Departamento de Bioquimica, Instituto de Quimica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Shen YA, Chen CL, Huang YH, Evans EE, Cheng CC, Chuang YJ, Zhang C, Le A. Inhibition of glutaminolysis in combination with other therapies to improve cancer treatment. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 62:64-81. [PMID: 33721588 PMCID: PMC8570367 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Targeting glutamine catabolism has been attracting more research attention on the development of successful cancer therapy. Catalytic enzymes such as glutaminase (GLS) in glutaminolysis, a series of biochemical reactions by which glutamine is converted to glutamate and then alpha-ketoglutarate, an intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, can be targeted by small molecule inhibitors, some of which are undergoing early phase clinical trials and exhibiting promising safety profiles. However, resistance to glutaminolysis targeting treatments has been observed, necessitating the development of treatments to combat this resistance. One option is to use synergy drug combinations, which improve tumor chemotherapy's effectiveness and diminish drug resistance and side effects. This review will focus on studies involving the glutaminolysis pathway and diverse combination therapies with therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-An Shen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; International Master/Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Long Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; International Master/Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Department of Pathology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Huang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Emily Elizabeth Evans
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chia Cheng
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Jie Chuang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Cissy Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Anne Le
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
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Abstract
Metastasis formation is the major cause of death in most patients with cancer. Despite extensive research, targeting metastatic seeding and colonization is still an unresolved challenge. Only recently, attention has been drawn to the fact that metastasizing cancer cells selectively and dynamically adapt their metabolism at every step during the metastatic cascade. Moreover, many metastases display different metabolic traits compared with the tumours from which they originate, enabling survival and growth in the new environment. Consequently, the stage-dependent metabolic traits may provide therapeutic windows for preventing or reducing metastasis, and targeting the new metabolic traits arising in established metastases may allow their eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Bergers
- Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Therapeutic Resistance, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Neurological Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Sarah-Maria Fendt
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium.
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Zhang C, Liu J, Wang J, Zhang T, Xu D, Hu W, Feng Z. The Interplay Between Tumor Suppressor p53 and Hypoxia Signaling Pathways in Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:648808. [PMID: 33681231 PMCID: PMC7930565 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.648808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is a hallmark of solid tumors and plays a critical role in different steps of tumor progression, including proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, metastasis, metabolic reprogramming, and stemness of cancer cells. Activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling plays a critical role in regulating hypoxic responses in tumors. As a key tumor suppressor and transcription factor, p53 responds to a wide variety of stress signals, including hypoxia, and selectively transcribes its target genes to regulate various cellular responses to exert its function in tumor suppression. Studies have demonstrated a close but complex interplay between hypoxia and p53 signaling pathways. The p53 levels and activities can be regulated by the hypoxia and HIF signaling differently depending on the cell/tissue type and the severity and duration of hypoxia. On the other hand, p53 regulates the hypoxia and HIF signaling at multiple levels. Many tumor-associated mutant p53 proteins display gain-of-function (GOF) oncogenic activities to promote cancer progression. Emerging evidence has also shown that GOF mutant p53 can promote cancer progression through its interplay with the hypoxia and HIF signaling pathway. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the interplay between the hypoxia and p53 signaling pathways, its impact upon cancer progression, and its potential application in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Wenwei Hu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Zhaohui Feng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers-State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
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Pan S, Fan M, Liu Z, Li X, Wang H. Serine, glycine and one‑carbon metabolism in cancer (Review). Int J Oncol 2021; 58:158-170. [PMID: 33491748 PMCID: PMC7864012 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2020.5158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine/glycine biosynthesis and one‑carbon metabolism are crucial in sustaining cancer cell survival and rapid proliferation, and of high clinical relevance. Excessive activation of serine/glycine biosynthesis drives tumorigenesis and provides a single carbon unit for one‑carbon metabolism. One‑carbon metabolism, which is a complex cyclic metabolic network based on the chemical reaction of folate compounds, provides the necessary proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and other biological macromolecules to support tumor growth. Moreover, one‑carbon metabolism also maintains the redox homeostasis of the tumor microenvironment and provides substrates for the methylation reaction. The present study reviews the role of key enzymes with tumor‑promoting functions and important intermediates that are physiologically relevant to tumorigenesis in serine/glycine/one‑carbon metabolism pathways. The related regulatory mechanisms of action of the key enzymes and important intermediates in tumors are also discussed. It is hoped that investigations into these pathways will provide new translational opportunities for human cancer drug development, dietary interventions, and biomarker identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijing Pan
- Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology of Henan Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China
| | - Ming Fan
- Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology of Henan Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China
| | - Zhangnan Liu
- Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology of Henan Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China
| | - Xia Li
- Correspondence to: Dr Huijuan Wang or Dr Xia Li, Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology of Henan Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China, E-mail: , E-mail:
| | - Huijuan Wang
- Correspondence to: Dr Huijuan Wang or Dr Xia Li, Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology of Henan Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China, E-mail: , E-mail:
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41
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Ding L, Xu X, Li C, Wang Y, Xia X, Zheng JC. Glutaminase in microglia: A novel regulator of neuroinflammation. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 92:139-156. [PMID: 33278560 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.11.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is the inflammatory responses that are involved in the pathogenesis of most neurological disorders. Glutaminase (GLS) is the enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of glutamine to produce glutamate. Besides its well-known role in cellular metabolism and excitatory neurotransmission, GLS has recently been increasingly noticed to be up-regulated in activated microglia under pathological conditions. Furthermore, GLS overexpression induces microglial activation, extracellular vesicle secretion, and neuroinflammatory microenvironment formation, which, are compromised by GLS inhibitors in vitro and in vivo. These results indicate that GLS has more complicated implications in brain disease etiology than what are previously known. In this review, we introduce GLS isoforms, expression patterns in the body and the brain, and expression/activities regulation. Next, we discuss the metabolic and neurotransmission functions of GLS. Afterwards, we summarize recent findings of GLS-mediated microglial activation and pro-inflammatory extracellular vesicle secretion, which, in turns, induces neuroinflammation. Lastly, we provide a comprehensive discussion for the involvement of microglial GLS in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders, indicating microglial GLS as a promising target to treat these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Ding
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Xiaonan Xu
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Congcong Li
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200434, China.
| | - Xiaohuan Xia
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200434, China.
| | - Jialin C Zheng
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200434, China; Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5930, USA.
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Chen X, Huang L, Yang T, Xu J, Zhang C, Deng Z, Yang X, Liu N, Chen S, Lin S. METTL3 Promotes Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastasis Through Enhancing GLS2 Expression. Front Oncol 2021; 11:667451. [PMID: 34094960 PMCID: PMC8170325 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.667451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have identified pleiotropic roles of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in tumor progression. However, the roles of METTL3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are still unclear. Here, we investigated the function and mechanism of METTL3 in ESCC tumorigenesis. We reported that higher METTL3 expression was found in ESCC tissues and was markedly associated with depth of invasion and poor prognosis. Loss- and gain-of function studies showed that METTL3 promoted the migration and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro. Integrated methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-Seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis first demonstrated that glutaminase 2 (GLS2) was regulated by METTL3 via m6A modification. Our findings identified METTL3/GLS2 signaling as a potential therapeutic target in antimetastatic strategies against ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Chen
- Clinical Department of Guangdong Metabolic Disease Research Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lanlan Huang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Yang
- Clinical Department of Guangdong Metabolic Disease Research Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiexuan Xu
- Clinical Department of Guangdong Metabolic Disease Research Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengyong Zhang
- Clinical Department of Guangdong Metabolic Disease Research Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhendong Deng
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaorong Yang
- Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Naihua Liu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Size Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Esophageal Cancer Precise Therapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Shaoqiang Lin, ; Size Chen,
| | - Shaoqiang Lin
- Clinical Department of Guangdong Metabolic Disease Research Centre of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Esophageal Cancer Precise Therapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Shaoqiang Lin, ; Size Chen,
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Matés JM, Campos-Sandoval JA, de Los Santos-Jiménez J, Segura JA, Alonso FJ, Márquez J. Metabolic Reprogramming of Cancer by Chemicals that Target Glutaminase Isoenzymes. Curr Med Chem 2020; 27:5317-5339. [PMID: 31038055 DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190416165004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic reprogramming of tumours is a hallmark of cancer. Among the changes in the metabolic network of cancer cells, glutaminolysis is a key reaction altered in neoplasms. Glutaminase proteins control the first step in glutamine metabolism and their expression correlates with malignancy and growth rate of a great variety of cancers. The two types of glutaminase isoenzymes, GLS and GLS2, differ in their expression patterns and functional roles: GLS has oncogenic properties and GLS2 has been described as a tumour suppressor factor. RESULTS We have focused on glutaminase connections with key oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Targeting glutaminase isoenzymes includes different strategies aimed at deactivating the rewiring of cancer metabolism. In addition, we found a long list of metabolic enzymes, transcription factors and signalling pathways dealing with glutaminase. On the other hand, a number of chemicals have been described as isoenzyme-specific inhibitors of GLS and/or GLS2 isoforms. These molecules are being characterized as synergic and therapeutic agents in many types of tumours. CONCLUSION This review states the metabolic pathways that are rewired in cancer, the roles of glutaminase isoforms in cancer, as well as the metabolic circuits regulated by glutaminases. We also show the plethora of anticancer drugs that specifically inhibit glutaminase isoenzymes for treating several sets of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Matés
- Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga (IBIMA), Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Canceromics Lab, Faculty of Sciences, Campus de Teatinos, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
| | - José A Campos-Sandoval
- Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga (IBIMA), Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Canceromics Lab, Faculty of Sciences, Campus de Teatinos, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
| | - Juan de Los Santos-Jiménez
- Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga (IBIMA), Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Canceromics Lab, Faculty of Sciences, Campus de Teatinos, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
| | - Juan A Segura
- Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga (IBIMA), Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Canceromics Lab, Faculty of Sciences, Campus de Teatinos, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
| | - Francisco J Alonso
- Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga (IBIMA), Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Canceromics Lab, Faculty of Sciences, Campus de Teatinos, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
| | - Javier Márquez
- Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga (IBIMA), Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Canceromics Lab, Faculty of Sciences, Campus de Teatinos, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
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44
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Wang D, Liu J, Chen Q, Yang R, Jiang Q. Upregulation of glutaminase 2 and neutrophil cytosolic factor 2 is associated with the poor prognosis of glioblastoma. Biomark Med 2020; 14:1585-1597. [PMID: 33179520 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2020-0341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to identify glioblastoma prognosis-associated genes with potential diagnosis or prognosis values using integrated bioinformatics analysis. Results: In total, 1831 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the glioblastoma and control samples were identified and were clustered into seven weighed gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) modules. These DEGs were associated with different functional categories and pathways. Nine prognosis-associated DEGs (including glutaminase 2 [GLS2] and neutrophil cytosolic factor 2 [NCF2]) were identified, and the higher expression levels of GLS2 and NCF2 genes were associated with the poor prognosis of glioblastoma in 'The Cancer Genome Atlas' cohort and a clinical cohort. Conclusion: These results showed that the two genes play novel roles in the etiological and development of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - RuiJin Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Qiuhua Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou 341000, China
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45
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Kodama M, Nakayama KI. A second Warburg-like effect in cancer metabolism: The metabolic shift of glutamine-derived nitrogen: A shift in glutamine-derived nitrogen metabolism from glutaminolysis to de novo nucleotide biosynthesis contributes to malignant evolution of cancer. Bioessays 2020; 42:e2000169. [PMID: 33165972 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Carbon and nitrogen are essential elements for life. Glucose as a carbon source and glutamine as a nitrogen source are important nutrients for cell proliferation. About 100 years ago, it was discovered that cancer cells that have acquired unlimited proliferative capacity and undergone malignant evolution in their host manifest a cancer-specific remodeling of glucose metabolism (the Warburg effect). Only recently, however, was it shown that the metabolism of glutamine-derived nitrogen is substantially shifted from glutaminolysis to nucleotide biosynthesis during malignant progression of cancer-which might be referred to as a "second" Warburg effect. In this review, address the mechanism and relevance of this metabolic shift of glutamine-derived nitrogen in human cancer. We also examine the clinical potential of anticancer therapies that modulate the metabolic pathways of glutamine-derived nitrogen. This shift may be as important as the shift in carbon metabolism, which has long been known as the Warburg effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manabu Kodama
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Keiichi I Nakayama
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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46
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Wang Z, Liu F, Fan N, Zhou C, Li D, Macvicar T, Dong Q, Bruns CJ, Zhao Y. Targeting Glutaminolysis: New Perspectives to Understand Cancer Development and Novel Strategies for Potential Target Therapies. Front Oncol 2020; 10:589508. [PMID: 33194749 PMCID: PMC7649373 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.589508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolism rewiring is an important hallmark of cancers. Being one of the most abundant free amino acids in the human blood, glutamine supports bioenergetics and biosynthesis, tumor growth, and the production of antioxidants through glutaminolysis in cancers. In glutamine dependent cancer cells, more than half of the tricarboxylic/critic acid (TCA) metabolites are derived from glutamine. Glutaminolysis controls the process of converting glutamine into TCA cycle metabolites through the regulation of multiple enzymes, among which the glutaminase shows the importance as the very first step in this process. Targeting glutaminolysis via glutaminase inhibition emerges as a promising strategy to disrupt cancer metabolism and tumor progression. Here, we review the regulation of glutaminase and the role of glutaminase in cancer metabolism and metastasis. Furthermore, we highlight the glutaminase inhibitor based metabolic therapy strategy and their potential applications in clinical scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhefang Wang
- Department of General, Visceral, Tumor and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Fanyu Liu
- Department of General, Visceral, Tumor and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ningbo Fan
- Department of General, Visceral, Tumor and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Chenghui Zhou
- Department of General, Visceral, Tumor and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dai Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Thomas Macvicar
- Max-Planck-Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Qiongzhu Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute & Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Christiane J Bruns
- Department of General, Visceral, Tumor and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of General, Visceral, Tumor and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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47
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Take Advantage of Glutamine Anaplerosis, the Kernel of the Metabolic Rewiring in Malignant Gliomas. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10101370. [PMID: 32993063 PMCID: PMC7599606 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid that plays a key role in the metabolism of proliferating cells including neoplastic cells. In the central nervous system (CNS), glutamine metabolism is particularly relevant, because the glutamine-glutamate cycle is a way of controlling the production of glutamate-derived neurotransmitters by tightly regulating the bioavailability of the amino acids in a neuron-astrocyte metabolic symbiosis-dependent manner. Glutamine-related metabolic adjustments have been reported in several CNS malignancies including malignant gliomas that are considered ‘glutamine addicted’. In these tumors, glutamine becomes an essential amino acid preferentially used in energy and biomass production including glutathione (GSH) generation, which is crucial in oxidative stress control. Therefore, in this review, we will highlight the metabolic remodeling that gliomas undergo, focusing on glutamine metabolism. We will address some therapeutic regimens including novel research attempts to target glutamine metabolism and a brief update of diagnosis strategies that take advantage of this altered profile. A better understanding of malignant glioma cell metabolism will help in the identification of new molecular targets and the design of new therapies.
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48
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Xu L, Zhou D, Li F, Ji L. Glutaminase 2 functions as a tumor suppressor gene in gastric cancer. Transl Cancer Res 2020; 9:4906-4913. [PMID: 35117852 PMCID: PMC8798858 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-20-2246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutaminase 2 (GLS2) has been described as a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colon cancer. This study aimed to investigate the expression of GLS2 and its biological role in gastric cancer. METHODS The expression of GLS2 was determined by quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Proliferation assay was performed by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Cell apoptosis assay was performed by Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) Apoptosis Detection Kit. Migration capability analysis was performed by Transwell chamber assay. The protein GLS2 and caspase 3 was determined by western blotting. RESULTS Here, we demonstrated that GLS2 displayed a significant downregulation in gastric cancer tissues compared to adjacent non-cancer tissues, which suggested that the downregulation of GLS2 might possibly be associated with the development and progression of gastric cancer. We also found that GLS2 overexpression could significantly suppress gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration and enhance gastric cancer cell apoptosis via upregulating the expression of caspase 3. CONCLUSIONS These data taken together show that GLS2 functions as a tumor suppressor gene in gastric cancer. This study not only enriches the molecular mechanism of gastric cancer but also supplies a scientific basis for targeted treatment of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changshu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Changshu, China
| | - Dong Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changshu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Changshu, China
| | - Fang Li
- Department of General Surgery, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changshu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Changshu, China
| | - Lijiang Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changshu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Changshu, China
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49
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Matés JM, Campos-Sandoval JA, de Los Santos-Jiménez J, Márquez J. Glutaminases regulate glutathione and oxidative stress in cancer. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:2603-2623. [PMID: 32681190 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02838-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Targeted therapies against cancer have improved both survival and quality of life of patients. However, metabolic rewiring evokes cellular mechanisms that reduce therapeutic mightiness. Resistant cells generate more glutathione, elicit nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activation, and overexpress many anti-oxidative genes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and thioredoxin reductase, providing stronger antioxidant capacity to survive in a more oxidative environment due to the sharp rise in oxidative metabolism and reactive oxygen species generation. These changes dramatically alter tumour microenvironment and cellular metabolism itself. A rational design of therapeutic combination strategies is needed to flatten cellular homeostasis and accomplish a drop in cancer development. Context-dependent glutaminase isoenzymes show oncogenic and tumour suppressor properties, being mainly associated to MYC and p53, respectively. Glutaminases catalyze glutaminolysis in mitochondria, regulating oxidative phosphorylation, redox status and cell metabolism for tumour growth. In addition, the substrate and product of glutaminase reaction, glutamine and glutamate, respectively, can work as signalling molecules moderating redox and bioenergetic pathways in cancer. Novel synergistic approaches combining glutaminase inhibition and redox-dependent modulation are described in this review. Pharmacological or genetic glutaminase regulation along with oxidative chemotherapy can help to improve the design of combination strategies that escalate the rate of therapeutic success in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Matés
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Canceromics Lab, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071, Málaga, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Málaga, Spain.
| | - José A Campos-Sandoval
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Canceromics Lab, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Málaga, Spain
| | - Juan de Los Santos-Jiménez
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Canceromics Lab, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Málaga, Spain
| | - Javier Márquez
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Canceromics Lab, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Málaga, Spain
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50
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Yue X, Wu F, Li Y, Liu J, Boateng M, Mandava K, Zhang C, Feng Z, Gao J, Hu W. Gain of function mutant p53 protein activates AKT through the Rac1 signaling to promote tumorigenesis. Cell Cycle 2020; 19:1338-1351. [PMID: 32275841 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2020.1749790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor suppressor p53 is the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer. Mutant p53 (mutp53) not only loses the tumor suppressive activity of wild type p53, but often gains new oncogenic activities to promote tumorigenesis, defined as mutp53 gain of function (GOF). While the concept of mutp53 GOF is well-established, its underlying mechanism is not well-understood. AKT has been suggested to be activated by mutp53 and contribute to mutp53 GOF, but its underlying mechanism is unclear. In this study, we found that the activation of the Rac1 signaling by mutp53 mediates the promoting effect of mutp53 on AKT activation. Blocking Rac1 signaling by RNAi or a Rac1 inhibitor can inhibit AKT activation by mutp53. Importantly, targeting Rac1/AKT can greatly compromise mutp53 GOF in tumorigenesis. Results from this study uncover a new mechanism for AKT activation in tumors, and reveal that activation of AKT by mutp53 via the Rac1 signaling contributes to mutp53 GOF in tumorigenesis. More importantly, this study provides Rac1 and AKT as potential targets for therapy in tumors containing mutp53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuetian Yue
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ, USA.,Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University , Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fangnan Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology & Application of Model Organisms, School of Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ USA
| | - Yanchen Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology & Application of Model Organisms, School of Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ USA
| | - Juan Liu
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ USA
| | - Michael Boateng
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Kranthi Mandava
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Cen Zhang
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ USA
| | - Zhaohui Feng
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ USA
| | - Jimin Gao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Technology & Application of Model Organisms, School of Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenwei Hu
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University , New Brunswick, NJ USA
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