1
|
Lakhani A, Kang DH, Kang YE, Park JO. Toward Systems-Level Metabolic Analysis in Endocrine Disorders and Cancer. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul) 2023; 38:619-630. [PMID: 37989266 PMCID: PMC10764991 DOI: 10.3803/enm.2023.1814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolism is a dynamic network of biochemical reactions that support systemic homeostasis amidst changing nutritional, environmental, and physical activity factors. The circulatory system facilitates metabolite exchange among organs, while the endocrine system finely tunes metabolism through hormone release. Endocrine disorders like obesity, diabetes, and Cushing's syndrome disrupt this balance, contributing to systemic inflammation and global health burdens. They accompany metabolic changes on multiple levels from molecular interactions to individual organs to the whole body. Understanding how metabolic fluxes relate to endocrine disorders illuminates the underlying dysregulation. Cancer is increasingly considered a systemic disorder because it not only affects cells in localized tumors but also the whole body, especially in metastasis. In tumorigenesis, cancer-specific mutations and nutrient availability in the tumor microenvironment reprogram cellular metabolism to meet increased energy and biosynthesis needs. Cancer cachexia results in metabolic changes to other organs like muscle, adipose tissue, and liver. This review explores the interplay between the endocrine system and systems-level metabolism in health and disease. We highlight metabolic fluxes in conditions like obesity, diabetes, Cushing's syndrome, and cancers. Recent advances in metabolomics, fluxomics, and systems biology promise new insights into dynamic metabolism, offering potential biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and personalized medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aliya Lakhani
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Da Hyun Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Yea Eun Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Junyoung O. Park
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gillis NE, Cozzens LM, Wilson ER, Smith NM, Tomczak JA, Bolf EL, Carr FE. TRβ Agonism Induces Tumor Suppression and Enhances Drug Efficacy in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer in Female Mice. Endocrinology 2023; 164:bqad135. [PMID: 37702560 PMCID: PMC10506733 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRβ) is a recognized tumor suppressor in numerous solid cancers. The molecular signaling of TRβ has been elucidated in several cancer types through re-expression models. Remarkably, the potential impact of selective activation of endogenous TRβ on tumor progression remains largely unexplored. We used cell-based and in vivo assays to evaluate the effects of the TRβ agonist sobetirome (GC-1) on a particularly aggressive and dedifferentiated cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). Here we report that GC-1 reduced the tumorigenic phenotype, decreased cancer stem-like cell populations, and induced redifferentiation of the ATC cell lines with different mutational backgrounds. Of note, this selective activation of TRβ amplified the effects of therapeutic agents in blunting the aggressive cell phenotype and stem cell growth. In xenograft assays, GC-1 alone inhibited tumor growth and was as effective as the kinase inhibitor, sorafenib. These results indicate that selective activation of TRβ not only induces a tumor suppression program de novo but enhances the effectiveness of anticancer agents, revealing potential novel combination therapies for ATC and other aggressive solid tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noelle E Gillis
- Department of Pharmacology, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- University of Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Lauren M Cozzens
- Department of Pharmacology, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Emily R Wilson
- Department of Pharmacology, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Noah M Smith
- Department of Pharmacology, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Jennifer A Tomczak
- Department of Pharmacology, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Eric L Bolf
- Department of Pharmacology, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- University of Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Frances E Carr
- Department of Pharmacology, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- University of Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hwang Y, Yun HJ, Jeong JW, Kim M, Joo S, Lee HK, Chang HS, Kim SM, Fang S. Co-inhibition of glutaminolysis and one-carbon metabolism promotes ROS accumulation leading to enhancement of chemotherapeutic efficacy in anaplastic thyroid cancer. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:515. [PMID: 37573361 PMCID: PMC10423221 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06041-2] [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: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most aggressive tumors with an extremely poor prognosis. Based on the several biological features related to glutamine metabolism in ATC, we hypothesized glutaminolysis inhibition induces cell death in ATC cells. However, glutamine metabolism inhibition triggered cell growth arrest independent of cell death in ATC, suggesting that other signaling pathways avoid glutamine metabolism inhibition-induced stress exist. To investigate the functional mechanism against glutamine metabolism inhibition, we conducted mRNA and ATAC-Sequencing data analysis and found that glutamine deprivation increased ATF4-mediated one-carbon metabolism. When we inhibited PHGDH, the first rate-limiting enzyme for one-carbon metabolism, cell growth arrest was promoted upon glutamine metabolism inhibition by accumulating intracellular ROS. We next observed that the co-inhibition of glutamine and one-carbon metabolism could augment the anticancer effects of drugs used in patients with ATC. Finally, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed that one-carbon metabolism was strengthened through the evolutionary process from PTC to ATC. Collectively, our data demonstrate that one-carbon metabolism has a potential role of modulation of cell fate in metabolic stress and can be a therapeutic target for enhancing antitumor effects in ATC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeseong Hwang
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyeok Jun Yun
- Department of Surgery, Thyroid Cancer Center, Institute of Refractory Thyroid Cancer, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Woong Jeong
- Department of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Minki Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seyeon Joo
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hae-Kyung Lee
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hang-Seok Chang
- Department of Surgery, Thyroid Cancer Center, Institute of Refractory Thyroid Cancer, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seok-Mo Kim
- Department of Surgery, Thyroid Cancer Center, Institute of Refractory Thyroid Cancer, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Sungsoon Fang
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Chronic Intractable Disease for Systems Medicine Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Severance Institute for Vascular and Metabolic Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Glycogen-Endoplasmic Reticulum Connection in the Liver. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021074. [PMID: 36674588 PMCID: PMC9862463 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021074] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycogen, the branched polymer of glucose is found mainly in the liver and muscle in mammals. Along with several other proteins, glycogen forms separate cellular organelles, and particles in cells. Glycogen particles in the liver have a special metabolic and also regulatory connection to the intracellular endomembrane system, particularly the endoplasmic reticulum. This connection is part of the organelle homeostasis in hepatocytes and forms a "glycogenoreticular system". The actual size of hepatic glycogen stores and the rate of glycogenolysis determines several essential liver-specific metabolic processes, such as glucose secretion for the maintenance of blood glucose levels or the glucuronidation of certain vital endo-, and xenobiotics, and are also related to liver antioxidant defense. In starvation, and in certain physiological and pathological states, where glycogen stores are depleted, functions of the glycogenoreticular system are altered. The starvation-induced depletion of hepatic glycogen content changes the biotransformation of various endo- and xenobiotics. This can be observed especially in acute DILI (drug-induced liver injury) due to paracetamol overdose, which is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the West.
Collapse
|