Emerging roles of aerobic glycolysis in breast cancer

The regulatory roles and clinical significance of glycolysis in tumor

Metabolic reprogramming has been demonstrated to have a significant impact on the biological behaviors of tumor cells, among which glycolysis is an important form. Recent research has revealed that the heightened glycolysis levels, the abnormal expression of glycolytic enzymes, and the accumulation of glycolytic products could regulate the growth, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of tumor cells and provide a favorable microenvironment for tumor development and progression. Based on the distinctive glycolytic characteristics of tumor cells, novel imaging tests have been developed to evaluate tumor proliferation and metastasis. In addition, glycolytic enzymes have been found to serve as promising biomarkers in tumor, which could provide assistance in the early diagnosis and prognostic assessment of tumor patients. Numerous glycolytic enzymes have been identified as potential therapeutic targets for tumor treatment, and various small molecule inhibitors targeting glycolytic enzymes have been developed to inhibit tumor development and some of them are already applied in the clinic. In this review, we systematically summarized recent advances of the regulatory roles of glycolysis in tumor progression and highlighted the potential clinical significance of glycolytic enzymes and products as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in tumor treatment.

Fibroblast growth factor pathway promotes glycolysis by activating LDHA and suppressing LDHB in a STAT1-dependent manner in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

The initiation of fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) expression coincident with the decrease of FGF2 expression is a well-documented event in prostate cancer (PCa) progression. Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and LDHB are essential metabolic products that promote tumor growth. However, the relationship between FGF1/FGF2 and LDHA/B-mediated glycolysis in PCa progression is not reported. Thus, we aimed to explore whether FGF1/2 could regulate LDHA and LDHB to promote glycolysis and explored the involved signaling pathway in PCa progression.

METHODS

In vitro studies used RT‒qPCR, Western blot, CCK-8 assays, and flow cytometry to analyze gene and protein expression, cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle in PCa cell lines. Glycolysis was assessed by measuring glucose consumption, lactate production, and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). For in vivo studies, a xenograft mouse model of PCa was established and treated with an FGF pathway inhibitor, and tumor growth was monitored.

RESULTS

FGF1, FGF2, and LDHA were expressed at high levels in PCa cells, while LDHB expression was low. FGF1/2 positively modulated LDHA and negatively modulated LDHB in PCa cells. The depletion of FGF1, FGF2, or LDHA reduced cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest, and inhibited glycolysis. LDHB overexpression showed similar inhibitory effect on PCa cells. Mechanistically, we found that FGF1/2 positively regulated STAT1 and STAT1 transcriptionally activated LDHA expression while suppressed LDHB expression. Furthermore, the treatment of an FGF pathway inhibitor suppressed PCa tumor growth in mice.

CONCLUSION

The FGF pathway facilitates glycolysis by activating LDHA and suppressing LDHB in a STAT1-dependent manner in PCa.

Transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications in the glycolytic pathway for targeted cancer therapy

Cancer cells largely rely on aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect to generate essential biomolecules and energy for their rapid growth. The key modulators in glycolysis including glucose transporters and enzymes, e.g. hexokinase 2, enolase 1, pyruvate kinase M2, lactate dehydrogenase A, play indispensable roles in glucose uptake, glucose consumption, ATP generation, lactate production, etc. Transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications (PTMs) of these critical modulators are important for signal transduction and metabolic reprogramming in the glycolytic pathway, which can provide energy advantages to cancer cell growth. In this review we recapitulate the recent advances in research on glycolytic modulators of cancer cells and analyze the strategies targeting these vital modulators including small-molecule inhibitors and microRNAs (miRNAs) for targeted cancer therapy. We focus on the regulation of the glycolytic pathway at the transcription level (e.g., hypoxia-inducible factor 1, c-MYC, p53, sine oculis homeobox homolog 1, N6-methyladenosine modification) and PTMs (including phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, etc.) of the key regulators in these processes. This review will provide a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of the key modulators in the glycolytic pathway and might shed light on the targeted cancer therapy at different molecular levels.

An evolutionary learning-based method for identifying a circulating miRNA signature for breast cancer diagnosis prediction

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide. As key regulatory molecules in several biological processes, microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential biomarkers for cancer. Understanding the miRNA markers that can detect BC may improve survival rates and develop new targeted therapeutic strategies. To identify a circulating miRNA signature for diagnostic prediction in patients with BC, we developed an evolutionary learning-based method called BSig. BSig established a compact set of miRNAs as potential markers from 1280 patients with BC and 2686 healthy controls retrieved from the serum miRNA expression profiles for the diagnostic prediction. BSig demonstrated outstanding prediction performance, with an independent test accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 99.90% and 0.99, respectively. We identified 12 miRNAs, including hsa-miR-3185, hsa-miR-3648, hsa-miR-4530, hsa-miR-4763-5p, hsa-miR-5100, hsa-miR-5698, hsa-miR-6124, hsa-miR-6768-5p, hsa-miR-6800-5p, hsa-miR-6807-5p, hsa-miR-642a-3p, and hsa-miR-6836-3p, which significantly contributed towards diagnostic prediction in BC. Moreover, through bioinformatics analysis, this study identified 65 miRNA-target genes specific to BC cell lines. A comprehensive gene-set enrichment analysis was also performed to understand the underlying mechanisms of these target genes. BSig, a tool capable of BC detection and facilitating therapeutic selection, is publicly available at https://github.com/mingjutsai/BSig.

DT-13 inhibits the proliferation of pancreatic cancer by inducing apoptosis via AMPK-mTOR signaling

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

DT-13, the principal active component of Mysidium shortscapes from the Liliaceae family, has garnered substantial interest in cancer therapy owing to its potential anticancer properties. This study investigated the effects of DT-13 on the proliferation and apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer cell lines and aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

PANC1 and CFPAC1 cells were exposed to DT-13 and their proliferation was assessed using RTCA and clone formation assays. Apoptotic protein expression was analyzed by western blotting, and apoptotic cells were identified by flow cytometry. RNA was extracted from DT-13 treated and untreated PANC1 cells for RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes were identified and subjected to GO bioprocess, KEGG pathway analysis, and western blotting. Finally, to evaluate tumor growth, CFPAC1 cells were subcutaneously injected into BALB/c nude mice.

RESULTS

DT-13 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of PANC1 and CFPAC1 cells by activating the AMPK/mTOR pathway and suppressing p70 S6K. Moreover, DT-13 hindered the growth of CFPAC1 xenograft tumors in nude mice.

CONCLUSIONS

DT-13 effectively inhibited the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells.

Circ_0002395 promotes aerobic glycolysis and proliferation in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells via miR-548c-3p/PDK1 axis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) showing unusual expressions have been discovered in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). However, the functions and underlying mechanisms of these circRNAs still remain largely unclear. Our current study discovered a notable increase in the expression of circRNA hsa_circ_0002395 (circ_0002395) in both PAAD tissues and cell lines. This up-regulation of circ_0002395 was found to be associated with larger tumor sizes and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, our findings showed that circ_0002395 facilitated aerobic glycolysis and cell proliferation in PAAD cells by regulating the miR-548c-3p/PDK1 axis. Mechanistically, we identified circ_0002395 as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that sponged miR-548c-3p, thereby promoting PDK1 expression and aerobic glycolysis, and ultimately resulting in the enhancement of cell proliferation. Our findings found that circ_0002395 promoted proliferation of PAAD cells by enhancing PDK1 expression and aerobic glycolysis by sponging miR-548c-3p.

ASIC1a contributes to the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of breast cancer by activating the Ca2+ /β-catenin pathway

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world, with metastasis being one of the leading causes of death among patients. The acidic environment of breast cancer tissue promotes tumor cell invasion and migration by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) in tumor cells, but the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood. This study investigated the expression of acid-sensitive ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) in breast cancer tissue samples and explored the mechanisms by which ASIC1a mediates the promotion of EMT in breast cancer cells in an acidic microenvironment through in vivo and in vitro experiments. The results showed that first, the expression of ASIC1a was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissue and was correlated with the TNM (tumor node metastasis) staging of breast cancer. Furthermore, ASIC1a expression was higher in tumors with lymph node metastasis than in those without. Second, the acidic microenvironment promoted [Ca2+ ]i influx via ASIC1a activation and regulated the expression of β-catenin, Vimentin, and E-cadherin, thus promoting EMT in breast cancer cells. Inhibition of ASIC1a activation with PcTx-1 could suppress EMT in breast cancer cells. Finally, in vivo studies also showed that inhibition of ASIC1a could reduce breast cancer metastasis, invasion, and EMT. This study suggests that ASIC1a expression is associated with breast cancer staging and metastasis. Therefore, ASIC1a may become a new breast cancer biomarker, and the elucidation of the mechanism by which ASIC1a promotes EMT in breast cancer under acidic microenvironments provides evidence for the use of ASIC1a as a molecular target for breast cancer treatment.

The Research Progress of Mitochondrial Transplantation in the Treatment of Mitochondrial Defective Diseases

Mitochondria are double-membrane organelles that are involved in energy production, apoptosis, and signaling in eukaryotic cells. Several studies conducted over the past decades have correlated mitochondrial dysfunction with various diseases, including cerebral ischemia, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, and cancer. Mitochondrial transplantation entails importing intact mitochondria from healthy tissues into diseased tissues with damaged mitochondria to rescue the injured cells. In this review, the different mitochondrial transplantation techniques and their clinical applications have been discussed. In addition, the challenges and future directions pertaining to mitochondrial transplantation and its potential in the treatment of diseases with defective mitochondria have been summarized.

Prognostic significance and expression pattern of glucose related genes in breast cancer: A comprehensive computational biology approach

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common type of malignancy globally and the main reason why women die from tumours. The Warburg effect, a characteristic of tumor, describes how most solid tumour cells acclimatize to their diverse surroundings by relying heavily on aerobic glycolysis for production of energy. In addition to producing key metabolic intermediates that are crucial for the production of macromolecules, which enable cancer cell division, invasiveness, and drug resistance, the transformed energy metabolism also supplies tumor cells with ATP for cellular energy. Here, we evaluated the expression profile, prognostic significance, and clinical relevance of glucose-related genes in BC using a bioinformatic approach. To clarify the significance of glucose-related genes in the development of breast tumours, we also performed a functional enrichment investigation of deregulated genes using the STRING and KEGG portal. The study depicted that of the 61 genes examined, 8 genes had a fold change Collapse

Key Words

• Bioinformatics
• Breast cancer
• Deregulation
• Glucose metabolism
• Prognosis
• Survival analysis
• Warburg effect

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MESH Headings Collapse

Grants Collapse

Affiliation(s)

Bader Alshehri Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Almajmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia

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Targeting glycolytic pathway in fibroblast-like synoviocytes for rheumatoid arthritis therapy: challenges and opportunities

INTRODUCTION

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by hyperplastic synovium, pannus formation, immune cell infiltration, and potential articular cartilage damage. Notably, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), especially rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RAFLS), exhibit specific overexpression of glycolytic enzymes, resulting in heightened glycolysis. This elevated glycolysis serves to generate ATP and plays a pivotal role in immune regulation, angiogenesis, and adaptation to hypoxia. Key glycolytic enzymes, such as hexokinase 2 (HK2), phosphofructose-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), significantly contribute to the pathogenic behavior of RAFLS. This increased glycolysis activity is regulated by various signaling pathways.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted to retrieve relevant studies published from January 1, 2010, to the present, focusing on RAFLS glycolysis, RA pathogenesis, glycolytic regulation pathways, and small-molecule drugs targeting glycolysis.

CONCLUSION

This review provides a thorough exploration of the pathological and physiological characteristics of three crucial glycolytic enzymes in RA. It delves into their putative regulatory mechanisms, shedding light on their significance in RAFLS. Furthermore, the review offers an up-to-date overview of emerging small-molecule candidate drugs designed to target these glycolytic enzymes and the upstream signaling pathways that regulate them. By enhancing our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of RA and highlighting the pivotal role of glycolytic enzymes, this study contributes to the development of innovative anti-rheumatic therapies.

Oxidative stress regulation and related metabolic pathways in epithelial-mesenchymal transition of breast cancer stem cells

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cell remodeling process in which epithelial cells undergo a reversible phenotype switch via the loss of adhesion capacity and acquisition of mesenchymal characteristics. In other words, EMT activation can increase invasiveness and metastatic properties, and prevent the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutics, as mesenchymal cells have a higher resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. EMT is orchestrated by a complex and multifactorial network, often linked to episodic, transient, or partial events. A variety of factors have been implicated in EMT development. Based on this concept, multiple metabolic pathways and master transcription factors, such as Snail, Twist, and ZEB, can drive the EMT. Emerging evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a significant role in EMT induction. One emerging theory is that reducing mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species production may contribute to EMT development. This review describes how metabolic pathways and transcription factors are linked to EMT induction and addresses the involvement of signaling pathways.

Lysine lactylation (Kla) might be a novel therapeutic target for breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Histone lysine lactylation (Kla) is a newly identified histone modification, which plays a crucial role in cancer progression. Hence, we determined the prognostic value of Kla in breast cancer (BC).

METHODS

We obtained RNA expression profiles of BC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), following screening out Kla-specific genes. Furthermore, we determined the prognostic value of Kla by constructing a cox model based on Kla-specific genes. Subsequently, we identified expression of lactate accumulation-related genes and prognostic Kla-specific genes through Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and further performed a correlation analysis based on their expression. Meanwhile, we explored the effects of Kla on BC tumor microenvironment (TME), drug therapy and immunotherapy. Moreover, we predicted the pathways influenced by Kla via gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA).

RESULTS

A total of 1073 BC samples and 112 normal controls were obtained from TCGA, and 23 tumor samples were removed owing to inadequate clinical information. We identified 257 differentially expressed Kla-specific genes (DEKlaGs) in BC. A cox model involved with CCR7, IGFBP6, NDUFAF6, OVOL1 and SDC1 was established, and risk score could be visualized as an independent biomarker for BC. Meanwhile, Kla was remarkably associated with BC immune microenvironment, drug therapy and immunotherapy. Kla was identified to be related to activation of various BC-related KEGG pathways.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Kla contributes to drug resistance and undesirable immune responses, and plays a crucial role in BC prognosis, suggesting that Kla was expected to be a new therapeutic target for BC.

Genome-wide expression profiling reveals novel biomarkers in epithelial ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most aggressive and frequent malignancy detected among women worldwide. The pathophysiology of OC should, therefore be better understood to identify diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive novel biomarkers necessary for early detection, management, and prognostication. In this study, we aimed to investigate transcriptomic landscape and biomarker through RNA-seq data analysis. Further analysis by Protein Protein network identified top 10 Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs). KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed the significant enrichment of DEGs in basal cell carcinoma, cell cycle and FoxO signalling pathway. The RNA-seq results of 10 DEGs were validated by QRT-PCR and TCGA database. Correlation studies were also performed between gene expression and clinical characteristics followed by survival analysis. Finally, 8 DEGs (CDKN1A, BCL6, CDC45, WNT2, TLR5, AQP5) including two novel DEGs (CSN1S1 and NKILA) were identified showing significant correlations with EOC characteristics. These may serve as interesting biomarkers and novel treatment targets and warrant further investigation into the functional outcome of EOC.

Dietary approaches for controlling cancer by limiting the Warburg effect: a review

Cancer is a mysterious disease. Among other alterations, tumor cells, importantly, have metabolic modifications. A well-known metabolic modification commonly observed in cancer cells has been termed the Warburg effect. This phenomenon is defined as a high preference for glucose uptake, and increased lactate production from that glucose, even when oxygen is readily available. Some anti-cancer drugs target the proposed Warburg effect, and some dietary regimens can function similarly. However, the most suitable dietary strategies for treating particular cancers are not yet well understood. The aim of this review was to describe findings regarding the impact of various proposed dietary regimens targeting the Warburg effect. The evidence suggests that combining routine cancer therapies with diet-based strategies may improve the outcome in treating cancer. However, designing individualized therapies must be our ultimate goal.

Haloxyfop-P-methyl induces immunotoxicity and glucose metabolism disorders and affects the Nrf2/ARE pathway mediated antioxidant system in Chiromantes dehaani

Haloxyfop-P-methyl is used extensively in agricultural production, and its metabolites in soil have potentially toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we explored the toxicity of haloxyfop-P-methyl on Chiromantes dehaani. The results of the 21-day toxicity test showed that haloxyfop-P-methyl decreased the weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) and hepatosomatic index (HSI). In glucose metabolism, haloxyfop-P-methyl reduced pyruvate, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase, but enhanced glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and hexokinase. Furthermore, expression of glucose metabolism-related genes was upregulated. We cloned the full-length CdG6PDH gene, which contains a 1587 bp ORF that encoded a 528 amino acid polypeptide. In antioxidant system, haloxyfop-P-methyl increased glutathione, thioredoxin reductase and thioredoxin peroxidase activities and activated the Nrf2/ARE pathway through upregulation of ERK, JNK, PKC and Nrf2. In immunity, low concentrations haloxyfop-P-methyl, or short-term exposure, upregulated the expression of immune-related genes and enhanced immune-related enzymes activity, while high concentrations or long-term exposure inhibited immune function. In summary, haloxyfop-P-methyl inhibited the growth performance, disrupted glucose metabolism, activated the antioxidant system, and led to immunotoxicity. The results deepen our understanding of the toxicity mechanism of haloxyfop-P-methyl and provide basic biological data for the comprehensive assessment of the risk of haloxyfop-P-methyl to the environment and humans.

Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes Differentially Express Gluconeogenic Rate-Limiting Enzymes-Obesity as a Crucial Player

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous entity, where different molecular subtypes (MS) exhibit distinct prognostic and therapeutic responses. A series of 62 breast cancer samples stratified by MS was obtained from the tumor biobank of IPO-Porto. The expression of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis-regulating enzymes was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Data analysis included stratification according to MS, body mass index (BMI), and BMI with MS (mBMI). We observed significant differences in pyruvate carboxylase (PC), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK), and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP) tumor cell expression when stratified by MS and mBMI. The expression of these enzymes was also statistically dependent on hormonal receptors and HER2 status and correlated with pathological stage and histological grade. Obesity tended to attenuate these differences, particularly in PC expression, although these were not affected by adipocyte deposition or inflammatory infiltration at the tumor microenvironment. Nonetheless, PCK and FBP expression was also modified by the presence of obesity-associated disorders like diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Taken together, these findings identify metabolic fingerprints for breast cancer as distinct histological types, which are affected by the presence of obesity and obesity-associated conditions. Despite the biological role of the differential expression of enzymes remaining unknown, the current study highlights the need to identify the expression of gluconeogenic-regulating enzymes as a tool for personalized medicine.

Hsa_circ_0052611 and mir-767-5p guide the warburg effect, migration, and invasion of BRCA cells through modulating SCAI

Noncoding RNAs are key regulators in the Warburg Effect, an emerging hallmark of cancer. We intended to investigate the role and mechanism of circular RNA hsa_circ_0052611 (circ_0052611) and microRNA (miR)-767-5p in breast cancer (BRCA) hallmarks, especially the Warburg Effect. Expression of circ_0052611 and SCAI was downregulated, and miR-767-5p was upregulated in human BRCA tissues and cells; moreover, circ_0052611 acted as a miR-767-5p sponge to modulate the expression of miR-767-5p-targeted SCAI. Functionally, re-expressing circ_0052611 suppressed migration, invasion, glucose uptake, lactate production, and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) in BRCA cells, and promoted apoptotic rate. These effects were accompanied by decreased Vimentin, N-cadherin, Bcl-2, and LDHA, and increased E-cadherin and Bax. Consistently, exhausting miR-767-5p exerted similar effects in BRCA cells. High miR-767-5p could counteract the role of circ_0052611 overexpression, and low SCAI likewise blocked the role of miR-767-5p deletion. In vivo, upregulating circ_0052611 delayed tumor growth of BRCA cells by altering miR-767-5p and SCAI expression. circ_0052611/miR-767-5p/SCAI axis might boycott the malignancy of BRCA cells.

LDHA and LDHB overexpression promoted the Warburg effect in malignantly transformed GES-1 cells induced by N-nitroso compounds

N-nitroso compounds (NOCs) exposure is a major risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. However, the carcinogenic mechanisms by which NOCs induce gastric and other cancers, especially the NOCs-induced Warburg effect, have not been comprehensively studied. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which has two subunits (LDHA and LDHB), plays an important role in the Warburg effect of tumor cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that LDHA and LDHB could promote Warburg effect in malignant transformed GES-1 cells induced by Nmethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). GES-1 cells were exposed to 1 μmol/L MNNG and cultured for 40 passages. During the culturing process, cell proliferation, migration, and soft agar colony formation significantly increased after 30 passages. Following MNNG exposure, lactate, LDH, glucose uptake, and the expression levels of key enzymes in glycolysis were significantly increased. Knocking down LDHA or LDHB alone reduced lactate secretion, inhibited cell viability, and impaired migratory capacities. Knocking down LDHA and LDHB together fully suppressed lactate secretion and effectively suppressed the malignant phenotype of cells transformed by long-term MNNG exposure. Finally, we demonstrated that overexpression of LDHA and LDHB promotes the malignant transformation of GES-1 cells by enhancing the Warburg effect during long-term exposure to NOCs.

Ginsenosides: changing the basic hallmarks of cancer cells to achieve the purpose of treating breast cancer

In 2021, breast cancer accounted for a substantial proportion of cancer cases and represented the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. Although tumor cells originate from normal cells in the human body, they possess distinct biological characteristics resulting from changes in gene structure and function of cancer cells in contrast with normal cells. These distinguishing features, known as hallmarks of cancer cells, differ from those of normal cells. The hallmarks primarily include high metabolic activity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and resistance to cell death. Current evidence suggests that the fundamental hallmarks of tumor cells affect the tissue structure, function, and metabolism of tumor cells and their internal and external environment. Therefore, these fundamental hallmarks of tumor cells enable tumor cells to proliferate, invade and avoid apoptosis. Modifying these hallmarks of tumor cells represents a new and potentially promising approach to tumor treatment. The key to breast cancer treatment lies in identifying the optimal therapeutic agent with minimal toxicity to normal cells, considering the specific types of tumor cells in patients. Some herbal medicines contain active ingredients which can precisely achieve this purpose. In this review, we introduce Ginsenoside's mechanism and research significance in achieving the therapeutic effect of breast cancer by changing the functional hallmarks of tumor cells, providing a new perspective for the potential application of Ginsenoside as a therapeutic drug for breast cancer.

hsa_circ_0003596, as a novel oncogene, regulates the malignant behavior of renal cell carcinoma by modulating glycolysis

BACKGROUND

This research was planned to analyze hsa_circ_0003596 (circCOL5A1) and glycolysis-focused mechanisms in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODS

circCOL5A1, miR-370-5p, and PRKCSH levels were determined in RCC tissues and selected cell lines by RT-qPCR and/or Western blot. RCC cells after corresponding transfection were tested by colony formation assay, EdU assay, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry to analyze cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis. Meanwhile, glycolysis in cells was evaluated by measuring glucose consumption, lactic acid, and ATP production, as well as immunoblotting for HK2 and PKM2. In addition, circCOL5A1 knockdown was performed in animal experiments to observe tumor growth and glycolysis. Finally, the ceRNA network between circCOL5A1, miR-370-5p, and PRKCSH was studied by luciferase reporter assay and RIP experiment.

RESULTS

circCOL5A1 and PRKCSH were highly expressed and miR-370-5p was poorly expressed in RCC. circCOL5A1 knockdown depressed RCC proliferation, invasion, migration, and glycolysis, and enhanced apoptosis. circCOL5A1 competitively adsorbed miR-370-5p. Artificial upregulation of miR-370-5p saved the pro-tumor effect of circCOL5A1 on RCC cells, as evidenced by suppression of tumor malignancy and glycolysis. miR-370-5p targeted PRKCSH. PRKCSH overexpression contributed to a reversal of the anti-tumor effect of circCOL5A1 silencing. Silencing circCOL5A1 inhibited RCC tumor growth and glycolysis.

CONCLUSIONS

circCOL5A1 regulates the malignant behavior of RCC by modulating glycolysis.

3,5-diCQA suppresses colorectal cancer cell growth through ROS/AMPK/mTOR mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and ferroptosis

3,5-diCQA has been shown to have anti-tumor effect by decreasing cancer cell growth. However, the molecular mechanism by which 3,5-diCQA impacts colorectal cancer (CRC) cells is unknown. This study discovered that 3,5-diCQA had a suppressive effect on CRC cells, mainly in the inhibition of proliferation, migration, and the enhancement of apoptosis in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Additionally, 3,5-diCQA was found to cause cell cycle arrest in CRC cells. Meanwhile, we found that 3,5-diCQA activates the AMPK pathway through the generation of ROS, mediates mitochondrial damage, and reduces mitochondrial aerobic glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation levels. 3,5-diCQA promoted oxidative damage and ferroptosis in CRC cells. Hence, we added ROS inhibitor NAC and found that the NAC reversed the effects of 3,5-diCQA on proliferation, apoptosis, ROS generation, and ferroptosis in CRC cells. Moreover, 3,5-diCQA was also shown to suppress the development of CRC tumor in a tumor-forming model of nude mice. In conclusion, we found that 3,5-diCQA enhances the oxidative damage and ferroptosis while reducing proliferation and migration of CRC cells, depending on mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the ROS/AMPK/mTOR pathway.

Identification of an optimized glycolytic-related risk signature for predicting the prognosis in breast cancer using integrated bioinformatic analysis

Aberrant metabolic disorders and significant glycolytic alterations in tumor tissues and cells are hallmarks of breast cancer (BC) progression. This study aims to elucidate the key biomarkers and pathways mediating abnormal glycolysis in breast cancer using bioinformatics analysis. Differential genes expression analysis, gene ontology analysis, Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis, gene set enrichment analyses, and correlation analysis were performed to explore the expression and prognostic implications of glycolysis-related genes. We effectively integrated 4 genes to construct a prognostic model of shorter survival in the high-risk versus low-risk group. The prognostic model showed promising predictive value and may be an integral part of the prognosis of BC. The survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves suggested that the signature showed a good predictive performance in both the The Cancer Genome Atlas training set and 2 gene expression omnibus validation sets. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that the 4-gene signature had an independent prognostic value. Furthermore, all calibration curves exhibited robust validity in prognostic prediction. We established an optimized 4-gene signature to clarify the connection between glycolysis and BC, and offered an attractive platform for risk stratification and prognosis predication of BC patients.

HOXC13 promotes cell proliferation, metastasis and glycolysis in breast cancer by regulating DNMT3A

Breast cancer (BC) is a life-threatening malignant tumor that affects females more commonly than males. The mechanisms underlying BC proliferation, metastasis and glycolysis require further investigation. Homeobox C13 (HOXC13) is highly expressed in BC; however, the specific mechanisms in BC are yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of HOXC13 in BC proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis. In the present study, the UALCAN database was used to predict the expression levels of HOXC13 in patients with BC. Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR were used to determine the expression levels of HOXC13 in BC cell lines. Moreover, HOXC13 knockdown was induced using cell transfection, and the viability, proliferation and apoptosis of cells were detected using Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining and flow cytometry. Migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were measured using wound healing assay, Transwell assay and western blotting. In addition, XF96 extracellular flux analyzer and corresponding kits were used to detect glycolysis. The JASPAR database was used to predict promoter binding sites for the transcription factors HOXC13 and DNA methyltransferase 3α (DNMT3A). HOXC13 expression was silenced and DNMT3A was simultaneously overexpressed using cell transfection. The results of the present study revealed that HOXC13 expression was significantly elevated in BC tissues and cells. Following HOXC13 knockdown in BC cells, the viability, proliferation, glycolysis, migration, invasion and EMT were significantly decreased, and apoptosis was significantly increased. In addition, HOXC13 positively regulated the transcription of DNMT3A in BC cells, thus playing a regulatory role in the malignant progression of cells. In conclusion, HOXC13 promoted cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT and glycolysis in BC by regulating DNMT3A.

Metabolic Alterations in Canine Mammary Tumors

Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) are among the most common diseases in female dogs and share similarities with human breast cancer, which makes these animals a model for comparative oncology studies. In these tumors, metabolic reprogramming is known as a hallmark of carcinogenesis whereby cells undergo adjustments to meet the high bioenergetic and biosynthetic demands of rapidly proliferating cells. However, such alterations are also vulnerabilities that may serve as a therapeutic strategy, which has mostly been tested in human clinical trials but is poorly explored in CMTs. In this dedicated review, we compiled the metabolic changes described for CMTs, emphasizing the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, and mitochondrial functions. We observed key factors associated with the presence and aggressiveness of CMTs, such as an increase in glucose uptake followed by enhanced anaerobic glycolysis via the upregulation of glycolytic enzymes, changes in glutamine catabolism due to the overexpression of glutaminases, increased fatty acid oxidation, and distinct effects depending on lipid saturation, in addition to mitochondrial DNA, which is a hotspot for mutations. Therefore, more attention should be paid to this topic given that targeting metabolic fragilities could improve the outcome of CMTs.

Comparison of the inedible parts of white and green asparagus based on metabolomics and network pharmacology

Asparagus is a perennial herb and is widely used as food and medicine in China. In this study, untargeted metabolomics analysis was applied to compare the chemical differences between the edible and inedible parts of asparagus, as well as the inedible parts of white and green asparagus. A total of 342 compounds were identified in the asparagus extracts, and 24 steroid saponins, 31 oxylipins and 36 LysoGPLs were identified for the first time in asparagus. Metabolomics analysis showed that the inedible part of white asparagus is rich in steroidal saponins, oxylipins and alkaloids, while the inedible part of green asparagus is rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, LysoGPLs and amino acids. The inedible part of white asparagus showed significantly higher inhibitory effects on breast cancer 4T-1 cells than that of green asparagus. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking showed that the biological difference is related to higher levels of steroidal saponins and oxylipins in the inedible part of white asparagus. This study is useful for the wasted resource utilization of inedible parts of asparagus.

Molecular mechanism of palmitic acid and its derivatives in tumor progression

Palmitic acid (PA) is a saturated fatty acid commonly found in coconut oil and palm oil. It serves as an energy source for the body and plays a role in the structure and function of cell membranes. Beyond its industrial applications, PA has gained attention for its potential therapeutic properties. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that PA exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-enhancing effects. In recent years, PA has emerged as a promising anti-tumor agent with demonstrated efficacy against various malignancies including gastric cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. Its anti-tumor effects encompass inducing apoptosis in tumor cells, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, suppressing metastasis and invasion, enhancing sensitivity to chemotherapy, and improving immune function. The main anticancer mechanism of palmitic acid (PA) involves the induction of cell apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway, facilitated by the promotion of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. PA also exhibits interference with the cancer cell cycle, leading to cell cycle arrest predominantly in the G1 phase. Moreover, PA induces programmed cell autophagy death, inhibits cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis, and synergistically enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs while reducing adverse reactions. PA acts on various intracellular and extracellular targets, modulating tumor cell signaling pathways, including the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt), endoplasmic reticulum (ER), B Cell Lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), P53, and other signaling pathways. Furthermore, derivatives of PA play a significant regulatory role in tumor resistance processes. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent studies investigating the anti-tumor effects of PA. It summarizes the underlying mechanisms through which PA exerts its anti-tumor effects, aiming to inspire new perspectives for the treatment of malignant tumors in clinical settings and the development of novel anti-cancer drugs.

The mechanisms, functions and clinical applications of miR-542-3p in human cancers

MicroRNAs, as a major type of noncoding RNAs, have crucial roles in various functions during development. Available data have shown that miR-542-3p decreased in various types of cancers. MiR-542-3p is engaged in various cancer-related behaviors like glycolysis, metastasis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell cycle, apoptosis, and proliferation via targeting at least 18 genes and some important signaling pathways like Wnt/β-catenin, Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) signaling, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling. Current studies have proposed that the level of miR-542-3p could be modulated by several upstream regulators like transcription factors, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). In addition, the level of miR-542-3p or its related lncRNAs/circRNAs are correlated with poor prognosis and clinicopathological features of cancer-affected patients. Here, we have discussed the biogenesis, function, and regulation of miR-542-3p as well as its aberrant expression in various types of neoplastic cells. Moreover, we have discussed the prognostic value of miR-542-3p in cancer. Finally, we have added the underlying molecular mechanism of miR-542-3p in cancer pathogenesis.

GPR81-mediated reprogramming of glucose metabolism contributes to the immune landscape in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Local tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in immunotherapy for breast cancer (BC). Whereas, the molecular mechanism responsible for the crosstalk between BC cells and surrounding immune cells remains unclear. The present study aimed to determine the interplay between GPR81-mediated glucometabolic reprogramming of BC and the immune landscape in TME.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay was first performed to evaluate the association between GPR81 and the immune landscape. Then, several stable BC cell lines with down-regulated GPR81 expression were established to directly identify the role of GPR81 in glucometabolic reprogramming, and western blotting assay was used to detect the underlying molecular mechanism. Finally, a transwell co-culture system confirmed the crosstalk between glucometabolic regulation mediated by GPR81 in BC and induced immune attenuation.

RESULTS

IHC analysis demonstrated that the representation of infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells and FOXP3⁺ T cells were dramatically higher in BC with a triple negative (TN) subtype in comparison with that with a non-TN subtype (P < 0.001). Additionally, the ratio of infiltrating CD8⁺ to FOXP3⁺ T cells was significantly negatively associated with GPR81 expression in BC with a TN subtype (P < 0.001). Furthermore, GPR81 was found to be substantially correlated with the glycolytic capability (P < 0.001) of BC cells depending on a Hippo-YAP signaling pathway (P < 0.001). In the transwell co-culture system, GPR81-mediated reprogramming of glucose metabolism in BC significantly contributed to a decreased proportion of CD8⁺ T (P < 0.001) and an increased percentage of FOXP3⁺ T (P < 0.001) in the co-cultured lymphocytes.

CONCLUSION

Glucometabolic reprogramming through a GPR81-mediated Hippo-YAP signaling pathway was responsible for the distinct immune landscape in BC. GPR81 was a potential biomarker to stratify patients before immunotherapy to improve BC's clinical prospect.

Hypoxia: syndicating triple negative breast cancer against various therapeutic regimens

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the deadliest subtypes of breast cancer (BC) for its high aggressiveness, heterogeneity, and hypoxic nature. Based on biological and clinical observations the TNBC related mortality is very high worldwide. Emerging studies have clearly demonstrated that hypoxia regulates the critical metabolic, developmental, and survival pathways in TNBC, which include glycolysis and angiogenesis. Alterations to these pathways accelerate the cancer stem cells (CSCs) enrichment and immune escape, which further lead to tumor invasion, migration, and metastasis. Beside this, hypoxia also manipulates the epigenetic plasticity and DNA damage response (DDR) to syndicate TNBC survival and its progression. Hypoxia fundamentally creates the low oxygen condition responsible for the alteration in Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) signaling within the tumor microenvironment, allowing tumors to survive and making them resistant to various therapies. Therefore, there is an urgent need for society to establish target-based therapies that overcome the resistance and limitations of the current treatment plan for TNBC. In this review article, we have thoroughly discussed the plausible significance of HIF-1α as a target in various therapeutic regimens such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, anti-angiogenic therapy, adjuvant therapy photodynamic therapy, adoptive cell therapy, combination therapies, antibody drug conjugates and cancer vaccines. Further, we also reviewed here the intrinsic mechanism and existing issues in targeting HIF-1α while improvising the current therapeutic strategies. This review highlights and discusses the future perspectives and the major alternatives to overcome TNBC resistance by targeting hypoxia-induced signaling.

GPD1 inhibits the carcinogenesis of breast cancer through increasing PI3K/AKT-mediated lipid metabolism signaling pathway

Glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (GPD1) acts as a tumor suppressor in various types of cancer. However, the mechanisms of GPD1 anti-tumor remain unclear in breast cancer. This study aims to explore the function and clinical relevance of GPD1 in breast cancer. We confirmed that GPD1 inhibited the ability of proliferation, migration, and invasion in GPD1 overexpression breast cancer cells by CCK-8, wound healing, and Transwell assays, respectively. We found that GPD1 overexpression activated the lipid synthesis pathway and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The inhibitory effect of GPD1 on breast cancer cells was also weakened after treatment with LY294002, a PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor. These results indicated that GPD1 suppressed the carcinogenesis of breast cancer through increasing PI3K/AKT-mediated lipid signaling pathways. Meanwhile, we detected that the relationship between GPD1 level and survival rate presents a positive correlation in breast cancer patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Therefore, GPD1 can be a prognostic biomarker and target in developing therapeutic strategies for breast cancer patients.

Exosomes from PYCR1 knockdown bone marrow mesenchymal stem inhibits aerobic glycolysis and the growth of bladder cancer cells via regulation of the EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway

Bladder cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease, and pyrroline‑5‑carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1) can promote the proliferation and invasion of BC cells and accelerate BC progression. In the present study, si‑PYCR1 was loaded into bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)‑derived exosomes (Exos) in BC. First, PYCR1 levels in BC tissues/cells were assessed, and cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were evaluated. Aerobic glycolysis levels (glucose uptake, lactate production, ATP production, and the expression of relevant enzymes) and the EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway phosphorylation levels were determined. PYCR1‑EGFR interactions were examined by co‑immunoprecipitation experiments. RT4 cells transfected with oe‑PYCR1 were treated with EGFR inhibitor CL‑387785. Exos were loaded with si‑PYCR1 and identified, followed by an assessment of their effects on aerobic glycolysis and malignant cell behaviors. Nude mouse models of xenograft tumors were established by injecting mice with Exo‑si‑PYCR1 and Exo‑si‑PYCR1. PYCR1 was upregulated in BC cells, with the highest expression observed in T24 cells and the lowest expression in RT4 cells. Following PYCR1 knockdown, the malignant behaviors of T24 cells and aerobic glycolysis were decreased, while PYCR1 overexpression in RT4 cells averted these trends. PYCR1 interacted with EGFR, and CL‑387785 inhibited the EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway and attenuated the effects of PYCR1 overexpression on RT4 cells but had no effect on PYCR1 expression. Exo‑si‑PYCR1 showed stronger inhibitory effects on aerobic glycolysis and on the malignant behaviors of T24 cells than si‑PYCR1. Exo‑si‑PYCR1 blocked xenograft tumor growth and had good biocompatibility. Briefly, PYCR1 knocking loaded by BMSC‑derived Exos suppressed aerobic glycolysis and BC growth via the PI3K/AKT pathway by binding to EGFR.

Decoding the regulatory roles of non-coding RNAs in cellular metabolism and disease

Non-coding RNAs, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are being studied extensively in a variety of fields. Their roles in metabolism have received increasing attention in recent years but are not yet clear. The regulation of glucose, fatty acid, and amino acid metabolism is an imperative physiological process that occurs in living organisms and takes part in cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Here, we summarize the important roles played by non-coding RNAs in glucose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, as well as the mechanisms involved. We also summarize the therapeutic advances for non-coding RNAs in diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and some metabolic diseases. Overall, non-coding RNAs are indispensable factors in metabolism and have a significant role in the three major metabolisms, which may be exploited as therapeutic targets in the future.

Multi-omic analysis of glycolytic signatures: exploring the predictive significance of heterogeneity and stemness in immunotherapy response and outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global health challenge with complex pathophysiology, characterized by high mortality rates and poor early detection due to significant tumor heterogeneity. Stemness significantly contributes to the heterogeneity of HCC tumors, and glycolysis is crucial for maintaining stemness. However, the predictive significance of glycolysis-related metabolic genes (GMGs) in HCC remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to identify critical GMGs and establish a reliable model for HCC prognosis. Methods: GMGs associated with prognosis were identified by evaluating genes with notable expression changes between HCC and normal tissues retrieved from the MsigDB database. Prognostic gene characteristics were established using univariate and multivariate Cox regression studies for prognosis prediction and risk stratification. The "CIBERSORT" and "pRRophetic" R packages were respectively used to evaluate the immunological environment and predict treatment response in HCC subtypes. The HCC stemness score was obtained using the OCLR technique. The precision of drug sensitivity prediction was evaluated using CCK-8 experiments performed on HCC cells. The miagration and invasion ability of HCC cell lines with different riskscores were assessed using Transwell and wound healing assays. Results: The risk model based on 10 gene characteristics showed high prediction accuracy as indicated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Moreover, the two GMG-related subgroups showed considerable variation in the risk of HCC with respect to tumor stemness, immune landscape, and prognostic stratification. The in vitro validation of the model's ability to predict medication response further demonstrated its reliability. Conclusion: Our study highlights the importance of stemness variability and inter-individual variation in determining the HCC risk landscape. The risk model we developed provides HCC patients with a novel method for precision medicine that enables clinical doctors to customize treatment plans based on unique patient characteristics. Our findings have significant implications for tailored immunotherapy and chemotherapy methods, and may pave the way for more personalized and effective treatment strategies for HCC.

Glucocorticoid Receptors Drive Breast Cancer Cell Migration and Metabolic Reprogramming via PDK4

Corticosteroids act on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR; NR3C1) to resolve inflammation and are routinely prescribed to breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment to alleviate side effects. Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) account for 15% to 20% of diagnoses and lack expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors as well as amplified HER2, but they often express high GR levels. GR is a mediator of TNBC progression to advanced metastatic disease; however, the mechanisms underpinning this transition to more aggressive behavior remain elusive. We previously showed that tissue/cellular stress (hypoxia, chemotherapies) as well as factors in the tumor microenvironment (transforming growth factor β [TGF-β], hepatocyte growth factor [HGF]) activate p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which phosphorylates GR on Ser134. In the absence of ligand, pSer134-GR further upregulates genes important for responses to cellular stress, including key components of the p38 MAPK pathway. Herein, we show that pSer134-GR is required for TNBC metastatic colonization to the lungs of female mice. To understand the mechanisms of pSer134-GR action in the presence of GR agonists, we examined glucocorticoid-driven transcriptomes in CRISPR knock-in models of TNBC cells expressing wild-type or phospho-mutant (S134A) GR. We identified dexamethasone- and pSer134-GR-dependent regulation of specific gene sets controlling TNBC migration (NEDD9, CSF1, RUNX3) and metabolic adaptation (PDK4, PGK1, PFKFB4). TNBC cells harboring S134A-GR displayed metabolic reprogramming that was phenocopied by pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) knockdown. PDK4 knockdown or chemical inhibition also blocked cancer cell migration. Our results reveal a convergence of GR agonists (ie, host stress) with cellular stress signaling whereby pSer134-GR critically regulates TNBC metabolism, an exploitable target for the treatment of this deadly disease.

Different cold tolerances among three strains of large yellow croaker: related to antioxidant defense and energy metabolism

The aim of this study was to compare low-temperature tolerances in different strains of large yellow croaker. Dai Qu (DQ), Min-Yue Dong (MY), and Quan Zhou (NZ) strains of large yellow croaker were subjected to cold stress (8.6 °C) for 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 96 h. Survival rate, histological observation, and antioxidant and energy metabolism indicators were determined. The results showed that compared with the DQ group and MY group, NZ group aggravated hepatic structure, enhanced ROS, lactate, and anaerobic metabolism (PK gene expression and activity), while inhibited ATP, GSH, antioxidant enzymes (mRNA levels and activities of SOD, GPx, and CAT), and aerobic metabolism enzymes (mRNA levels and activities of F-ATPase, SDH, and MDH), indicating the reduction of cold tolerance in the NZ group was closely correlated with the decrement of antioxidative capacity and energy metabolism efficiency. Nrf2 and AMPK gene expressions were correlated with antioxidant and energy metabolism mRNA levels, respectively, suggesting Nrf2 and AMPK might participate in the modulation of target genes during the cold-stress adaptation. In conclusion, low temperature tolerance of fish depended on the antioxidant defense and energy metabolism efficiency, which contributes to understanding the underlying mechanisms of cold adaptation in large yellow croaker.

Molecular mechanism of ferulic acid and its derivatives in tumor progression

Cancer is a significant disease that poses a major threat to human health. The main therapeutic methods for cancer include traditional surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and new therapeutic methods such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which have been developed rapidly in recent years. Recently, the tumor antitumor effects of the active ingredients of natural plants have attracted extensive attention. Ferulic acid (FA), (3-methoxy-4-hydroxyl cinnamic), with the molecular formula is C₁₀H₁₀O₄, is a phenolic organic compound found in ferulic, angelica, jujube kernel, and other Chinese medicinal plants but is also, abundant in rice bran, wheat bran, and other food raw materials. FA has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-radiation, and immune-enhancing effects and also shows anticancer activity, as it can inhibit the occurrence and development of various malignant tumors, such as liver cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer. FA can cause mitochondrial apoptosis by inducing the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). FA can also interfere with the cell cycle of cancer cells, arrest most cancer cells in G₀/G₁ phase, and exert an antitumor effect by inducing autophagy; inhibiting cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis; and synergistically improving the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs and reducing adverse reactions. FA acts on a series of intracellular and extracellular targets and is involved in the regulation of tumor cell signaling pathways, including the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and tumor protein 53 (P53) pathways and other signaling pathways. In addition, FA derivatives and nanoliposomes, as platforms for drug delivery, have an important regulatory effect on tumor resistance. This paper reviews the effects and mechanisms of antitumor therapies to provide new theoretical support and insight for clinical antitumor therapy.

The Metabolic Landscape of Breast Cancer and Its Therapeutic Implications

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor globally as of 2020 and remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death among female individuals worldwide. Metabolic reprogramming is well recognized as a hallmark of malignancy owing to the rewiring of multiple biological processes, notably, glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, pentose phosphate pathway, as well as lipid metabolism, which support the demands for the relentless growth of tumor cells and allows distant metastasis of cancer cells. Breast cancer cells are well documented to reprogram their metabolism via mutations or inactivation of intrinsic factors such as c-Myc, TP53, hypoxia-inducible factor, and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway or crosstalk with the surrounding tumor microenvironments, including hypoxia, extracellular acidification and interaction with immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and adipocytes. Furthermore, altered metabolism contributes to acquired or inherent therapeutic resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the metabolic plasticity underlying breast cancer progression as well as to dictate metabolic reprogramming that accounts for the resistance to standard of care. This review aims to illustrate the altered metabolism in breast cancer and its underlying mechanisms, as well as metabolic interventions in breast cancer treatment, with the intention to provide strategies for developing novel therapeutic treatments for breast cancer.

WSSV exploits AMPK to activate mTORC2 signaling for proliferation by enhancing aerobic glycolysis

AMPK plays significant roles in the modulation of metabolic reprogramming and viral infection. However, the detailed mechanism by which AMPK affects viral infection is unclear. The present study aims to determine how AMPK influences white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection in shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus). Here, we find that AMPK expression and phosphorylation are significantly upregulated in WSSV-infected shrimp. WSSV replication decreases remarkably after knockdown of Ampkα and the shrimp survival rate of AMPK-inhibitor injection shrimp increases significantly, suggesting that AMPK is beneficial for WSSV proliferation. Mechanistically, WSSV infection increases intracellular Ca2+ level, and activates CaMKK, which result in AMPK phosphorylation and partial nuclear translocation. AMPK directly activates mTORC2-AKT signaling pathway to phosphorylate key enzymes of glycolysis in the cytosol and promotes expression of Hif1α to mediate transcription of key glycolytic enzyme genes, both of which lead to increased glycolysis to provide energy for WSSV proliferation. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which WSSV exploits the host CaMKK-AMPK-mTORC2 pathway for its proliferation, and suggest that AMPK might be a target for WSSV control in shrimp aquaculture.

APOC1 promotes the progression of osteosarcoma by binding to MTCH2

Osteosarcoma is the most prevalent primary malignant bone cancer worldwide. Apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) and mitochondrial carrier homolog 2 (MTCH2) have been identified to be upregulated during the oncogenesis and metastasis of osteosarcoma. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of APOC1 in osteosarcoma progression and the mechanisms associated with MTCH2. APOC1 and MTCH2 expression in osteosarcoma cells was assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. Then, APOC1 was silenced to detect its effect on cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis using Cell Counting Kit-8, a colony formation assay and TUNEL staining, respectively. Transwell and wound healing assays were used to evaluate cell invasion and migration. The interaction between APOC1 and MTCH2 as predicted by the Biological General Repository for Interaction Datasets and the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins databases was verified by co-immunoprecipitation assay. Subsequently, rescue experiments were performed to analyze the regulatory effects of APOC1 on MTCH2 in the biological behavior and Warburg effect of osteosarcoma cells. Significantly upregulated APOC1 and MTCH2 expression was found in osteosarcoma SAOS-2 cells. APOC1 silencing attenuated cell viability, inhibited proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis, coupled with the decreased Bcl-2 expression and increased Bax and cleaved-caspase 3 expression. The invasive and migratory capacities of SAOS-2 cells were also suppressed following APOC1 knockdown. Moreover, APOC1 was confirmed to interact with MTCH2 in osteosarcoma cells. MTCH2 upregulation inhibited the impacts of APOC1 deletion on the malignant behavior of osteosarcoma cells. APOC1 silencing-induced oxidative phosphorylation elevation and Warburg effect decrease were partially restored by MTCH2 upregulation. In sum, APOC1 promoted progression of osteosarcoma by binding to MTCH2, suggesting that targeting the APOC1/MTCH2 axis may be a potential treatment of osteosarcoma.

LINC00365 functions as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting HIF-1α-mediated glucose metabolism reprogramming in breast cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in regulating several physiological processes and have been implicated in several pathologies including cancer. LncRNAs have been found to regulate key cellular pathways involved in cancer development, and their aberrant expression plays critical roles in the onset or progression of disease. The role of lncRNAs in breast cancer (BC) has become a hot topic of research in recent years. We previously showed that LINC00365 inhibits BC survival. In the current study, based on the important role of energy metabolism and HIF-1α for tumor cell proliferation, we investigated the role and mechanism of the LINC00365/HIF-1α axis in affecting tumor growth through glycolysis using the breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and HCC-1937. We found that LINC00365 inhibited BC cell proliferation. Furthermore, LINC00365 overexpression suppressed aerobic glycolysis in BC cells. RNA-sequencing identified hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which has been linked with glycolysis and upregulates glycolysis-related genes, as a potential target gene of LINC00365. Accordingly, we found that LINC00365 overexpression resulted in decreased expression of key glycolytic enzymes such as downstream hexokinase 2 (HK2), recombinant pyruvate kinase isozymes M2 (PKM2) and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA). Our results suggest that targeting LINC00365 may reverse the glucose metabolism pattern of BC and effectively inhibit BC survival both in vitro and in vivo.

LncRNA SLC9A3-AS1 knockdown increases the sensitivity of liver cancer cell to triptolide by regulating miR-449b-5p-mediated glycolysis

Triptolide (TP) is involved in the progression of liver cancer. However, the detailed molecular network regulated through TP is still unclear. Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) SLC9A3 exerts roles in various pathological progresses. Nevertheless, whether SLC9A3 affects the sensitivity of liver cancer cells to TP have not been uncovered. The content of SLC9A3-AS1 and miR-449b-5p was estimated by utilizing quantitative real-time polymerase-chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay was introduced to assess cell viability. Additionally, cell viability as well as invasion was tested via transwell assay. The direct binding between miR-449b-5p and SLC9A3-AS1 or LDHA was confirmed through luciferase reporter gene assay. Moreover, glycolysis rate was tested by calculating the uptake of glucose in addition to the production of lactate in Huh7 cells. LncRNA SLC9A3-AS1 was up-regulated in liver cancer tissue samples and cells. Knockdown of SLC9A3-AS1 notably further inhibited viability, migration as well as invasion in Huh7 cells. MiR-449b-5p was the direct downstream miRNA of SLC9A3-AS1 and was down-regulated by SLC9A3-AS1 in Huh7 cells. In addition, miR-449b-5p was reduced in liver cancer tissues and cells. Overexpressed miR-449b-5p increased the sensitivity of Huh7 cells to TP remarkably. Moreover, miR-449b-5p negatively regulated LDHA expression in Huh7 cells. This work proved that SLC9A3-AS1 increased the sensitivity of liver cancer cells to TP by regulating glycolysis rate mediated via miR-449b-5p/LDHA axis. These findings implied that TP is likely to be a potent agent for treating patients diagnosed with liver cancer.

Phenotype-specific estimation of metabolic fluxes using gene expression data

A cell's genome influences its metabolism via the expression of enzyme-related genes, but transcriptome and fluxome are not perfectly correlated as post-transcriptional mechanisms also regulate reaction's kinetics. Here, we addressed the question: given a transcriptome, how unobserved mechanisms of reaction kinetics should be systematically accounted for when inferring the fluxome? To infer the most likely and least biased fluxome, we present Pheflux, a constraint-based model maximizing Shannon's entropy of fluxes per mRNA. Benchmarked against ¹³C fluxes of yeast and bacteria, Pheflux accurately estimates the carbon core metabolism. We applied Pheflux to thousands of normal and tumor cell transcriptomes obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Pheflux showed statistically significantly higher glucose yields on lactate in breast, kidney, and bronchus-lung tumoral cells than their normal counterparts. Results are consistent with the Warburg effect, a hallmark of cancer metabolism, suggesting that Pheflux can be efficiently used to study the metabolism of eukaryotic cells.

Decreased Glycolysis at Menstruation is Associated with Increased Menstrual Blood Loss

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is common and severely affects the quality of life of the afflicted women. While HMB is known to be caused by impaired endometrial repair after menstruation, its more proximate cause remains unknown. To investigate whether glycolysis plays any role in endometrial repair and thus HMB, we conducted two mouse experiments using a mouse model of simulated menstruation. We performed immunohistochemistry analyses of proteins involved in glycolysis as well as pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in endometrium from decidualized and non-decidualized uterine horns. We also assessed the extent of endometrial repair by staging endometrial morphology from decidualization to full repair using histological scoring of uterine sections and quantitated the amount of menstrual blood loss (MBL). In addition, we employed the scratch assay and the CCK-8 assay to evaluate the effect of glycolysis suppression on cellular migration and proliferation, respectively. Finally, we performed an immunohistochemistry analysis of HK2 in endometrium from women with adenomyosis who experienced either moderate/heavy or excessive MBL. We found that endometrial repair coincided with increased glycolysis in endometrium and glycolysis suppression delayed endometrial repair, resulting in increased MBL. Additionally, glycolysis suppression significantly inhibited the proliferative and migratory capability of endometrial cells, and disrupted normal endometrial repair even when hypoxia was maintained. Women with adenomyosis who experienced excessive MBL had significantly lower HK2 staining than those who experienced moderate/heavy MBL. Thus, our study highlights the importance of glycolysis as well as inflammation in optimal endometrial repair, and provides clues for the cause of HMB in women with adenomyosis.

Ectopic endometriotic stromal cells-derived lactate induces M2 macrophage polarization via Mettl3/Trib1/ERK/STAT3 signalling pathway in endometriosis

Endometriosis is a gynaecological condition characterized by the growth of endometrium-like tissues within and outside of the pelvic cavity. Recent studies have demonstrated that aberrant infiltration of M2 macrophages is mainly responsible for the establishment of endometriotic lesions. A growing body of evidence shows that glycolysis and lactate accumulation have great impact on the regulation of immunomicroenvironment. However, the communication signal between glycolysis and macrophages is poorly defined in endometriosis. Hereby, we investigate the correlation between glycolysis and M2 macrophage infiltration in endometriosis. Next, we confirm that lactate is pivotal factor that drives macrophage M2-polarization to promote endometriotic stromal cells invasion in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we also identify that the activation of Mettl3 and its target gene Trib1 promote M2 macrophage polarization. Moreover, we also demonstrate that Trib1 induce M2 macrophage polarization via the activation of ERK/STAT3 signalling pathway. Finally, by injecting 2-DG into endometriosis mice model, we show that the restrain of glycolysis significantly reduces the progression of endometriosis, which provides evidence for lactate as a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of endometriosis.

Environmental exposure to cadmium in breast cancer - association with the Warburg effect and sensitivity to tamoxifen

The association between cadmium and breast cancer remains unexplained due to inconsistent epidemiological data and unknown underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to assess the relationship between environmental exposure to cadmium and the Warburg effect in breast cancer and, thus, its possible interference with breast cancer treatment. The observational study in two groups of breast cancer patients indicated a positive correlation between urinary cadmium concentration and tumor expression of HIF1A (a master regulator of the Warburg effect). Further explanatory research in MCF-7 cells showed no impact of cadmium exposure on molecular and biochemical markers of the Warburg effect. However, long-term exposure to a low and environmentally relevant concentration of cadmium led to the accumulation of the metal in MCF-7 cells and decreased their sensitivity to tamoxifen. To conclude, the association between cadmium and the Warburg effect was suggested in the observational study, although not confirmed in vitro. Nevertheless, cadmium seems to interfere with tamoxifen treatment which deserves further investigation in terms of its possible implication in intrinsic resistance to hormone therapy.

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 knockdown induces apoptosis in ccRCC by causing lysosomal membrane permeabilization via metabolic reprogramming

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) plays an important role in converting serine to glycine and supplying carbon to one-carbon metabolism to sustain cancer cell proliferation. However, the expression, function, and underlying mechanisms of SHMT2 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remain largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that SHMT2 was upregulated in ccRCC tissues compared with controls and associated with patient survival. SHMT2 knockdown inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion in ccRCC cells. Overexpression of SHMT2 promoted tumor progression. Mechanistically, SHMT2 depletion disrupted one-carbon metabolism, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and decreased ATP levels via metabolic reprogramming, which destroyed cell homeostasis. The SHMT2 knockdown-induced stress activated autophagy. A mass of autophagosomes fused with lysosomes, resulting in lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) and leakage of lysosomal contents into the cytoplasm, which eventually led to apoptosis. Our work reveals that SHMT2 functions as an oncogenic gene to promote ccRCC progression. SHMT2 depletion induces apoptosis by causing LMP through excessive activation of the autophagy-lysosome pathway via metabolic reprogramming.

Multifaceted roles of aerobic glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver cancer is a common malignancy with high morbidity and mortality rates. Changes in liver metabolism are key factors in the development of primary hepatic carcinoma, and mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to the occurrence and development of tumours. Accordingly, the study of the metabolic mechanism of mitochondria in primary hepatic carcinomas has gained increasing attention. A growing body of research suggests that defects in mitochondrial respiration are not generally responsible for aerobic glycolysis, nor are they typically selected during tumour evolution. Conversely, the dysfunction of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) may promote the proliferation, metastasis, and invasion of primary hepatic carcinoma. This review presents the current paradigm of the roles of aerobic glycolysis and OXPHOS in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mitochondrial OXPHOS and cytoplasmic glycolysis cooperate to maintain the energy balance in HCC cells. Our study provides evidence for the targeting of mitochondrial metabolism as a potential therapy for HCC.

A Circular RNA, hsa_circ_0018180 (circPARD3), Triggers Glycolysis and Promotes Malignancy of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Through the miR-5194/ENO1 Axis

Emerging evidence has demonstrated the pivotal roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the modulation of malignancy and pathological progression among multiple human cancers. Glucose metabolism reprogramming is a widely identified characteristic for contributing to facilitate tumorigenesis. Nonetheless, their contributions to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell glycolysis remain to be further elucidated. Herein, we aim to investigate the role of circRNA, hsa_circ_0018180 (also named as circPARD3) in HNSCC. Expression patterns of circPARD3 in HNSCC tissues and different cell lines were determined by qRT-PCR assay, as well as its correlation with the prognosis of survival. CCK-8, EdU incorporation, and transwell assays were carried out to assess the cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, respectively. Glucose uptake and lactate production were evaluated by preforming glycolysis. Mechanistically, the circPARD3/miR-5194/ENO1 axis was verified by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase reporter assays. Western blot analysis was employed to measure the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated biomarkers. Upregulated circPARD3 observed in HNSCC tissues and cell lines indicated the poor prognosis of patients. Stable knockdown of circPARD3 dramatically exerted the suppressive effects on cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as glucose uptake and lactate production. Mechanistically, circPARD3 harbored miR-5194, serving as a miRNA sponge, thereby increasing ENO1 expression. Moreover, ENO1 evidently reversed miR-5194-mediated attenuated malignant behaviors. Collectively, our study identified an oncogenic role of circPARD3 in HNSCC through a novel machinery of circPARD3/miR-5194/ENO1 and provided a promising therapeutic target for HNSCC.

Quercetin acts via the G3BP1/YWHAZ axis to inhibit glycolysis and proliferation in oral squamous cell carcinoma

There is increasing evidence that the GTPase-activating protein SH3 domain-binding protein 1 (G3BP1) plays important roles in the formation of various tumors. However, the biological functions and mechanism of G3BP1 in promoting the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma remain largely unknown. The impacts of quercetin on glycolysis and proliferation of the CAL27 oral squamous cell carcinoma line were investigated, and the mediating role of the G3BP1/YWHAZ pathway was explored. CAL27 cells stably over- or underexpressing G3BP1 were treated with quercetin, and then cell proliferation was assayed together with the expression of proteins involved in glucose uptake, glycolysis, and lactate production, as well as the activity of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase. CAL27 cells expressed G3BP1 and YWHAZ at significantly higher levels than normal oral squamous cells. CAL27 cells showed the highest expression of both proteins among the three carcinoma lines (TSCCA, SCC15, 42 CAL27). Overexpressing G3BP1 in CAL27 cells markedly induced glucose uptake, glycolysis, cell proliferation, and YWHAZ expression. Knocking down G3BP1 or YWHAZ exerted the opposite effects, which were similar to the effects of inhibiting glycolysis. Quercetin repressed glucose uptake, glycolysis, cell proliferation, and G3BP1/YWHAZ signaling in a dose-dependent way, and these effects were antagonized by G3BP1 overexpression. Quercetin can inhibit glycolysis and cell proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma, apparently by inhibiting the G3BP1/YWHAZ axis.

Identification of ubiquitination-related gene classification and a novel ubiquitination-related gene signature for patients with triple-negative breast cancer

Background: Ubiquitination-related genes (URGs) are important biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer. However, URG prognostic prediction models have not been established in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) before. Our study aimed to explore the roles of URGs in TNBC. Methods: The Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used to identify URG expression patterns in TNBC. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) analysis was used to cluster TNBC patients. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis was used to construct the multi-URG signature in the training set (METABRIC). Next, we evaluated and validated the signature in the test set (GSE58812). Finally, we evaluated the immune-related characteristics to explore the mechanism. Results: We identified four clusters with significantly different immune signatures in TNBC based on URGs. Then, we developed an 11-URG signature with good performance for patients with TNBC. According to the 11-URG signature, TNBC patients can be classified into a high-risk group and a low-risk group with significantly different overall survival. The predictive ability of this 11-URG signature was favorable in the test set. Moreover, we constructed a nomogram comprising the risk score and clinicopathological characteristics with favorable predictive ability. All of the immune cells and immune-related pathways were higher in the low-risk group than in the high-risk group. Conclusion: Our study indicated URGs might interact with the immune phenotype to influence the development of TNBC, which contributes to a further understanding of molecular mechanisms and the development of novel therapeutic targets for TNBC.