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Guo J, Buettner R, Du L, Li Z, Liu W, Su R, Chen Z, Che Y, Zhang Y, Ma R, Nguyen LXT, Moore RE, Khyatiben P, Chen MH, Patrick P, Wu X, Marcucci G, Wang L, Horne D, Chen J, Yang Y, Rosen ST. 8-Cl-Ado and 8-NH 2-Ado synergize with venetoclax to target the methionine-MAT2A-SAM axis in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2024; 38:1236-1245. [PMID: 38643304 PMCID: PMC11147765 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-024-02222-w] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Targeting the metabolic dependencies of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells is a promising therapeutical strategy. In particular, the cysteine and methionine metabolism pathway (C/M) is significantly altered in AML cells compared to healthy blood cells. Moreover, methionine has been identified as one of the dominant amino acid dependencies of AML cells. Through RNA-seq, we found that the two nucleoside analogs 8-chloro-adenosine (8CA) and 8-amino-adenosine (8AA) significantly suppress the C/M pathway in AML cells, and methionine-adenosyltransferase-2A (MAT2A) is one of most significantly downregulated genes. Additionally, mass spectrometry analysis revealed that Venetoclax (VEN), a BCL-2 inhibitor recently approved by the FDA for AML treatment, significantly decreases the intracellular level of methionine in AML cells. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that combining 8CA or 8AA with VEN can efficiently target the Methionine-MAT2A-S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM) axis in AML. Our results demonstrate that VEN and 8CA/8AA synergistically decrease the SAM biosynthesis and effectively target AML cells both in vivo and in vitro. These findings suggest the promising potential of combining 8CA/8AA and VEN for AML treatment by inhibiting Methionine-MAT2A-SAM axis and provide a strong rationale for our recently activated clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiamin Guo
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.
| | - Ralf Buettner
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Li Du
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Zhenlong Li
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Rui Su
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Zhenhua Chen
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Yuan Che
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Rui Ma
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Le Xuan Truong Nguyen
- Department of Hematologic Malignancies Translational Science and Division of Leukemia, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Roger E Moore
- Integrated Mass Spectrometry Shared Resource, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Pathak Khyatiben
- Integrated Mass Spectrometry Shared Resource, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
- Cancer & Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Min-Hsuan Chen
- Integrative Genomics Core, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Pirrotte Patrick
- Integrated Mass Spectrometry Shared Resource, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
- Cancer & Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Xiwei Wu
- Integrative Genomics Core, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Guido Marcucci
- Department of Hematologic Malignancies Translational Science and Division of Leukemia, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Lili Wang
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - David Horne
- Department of Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Yanzhong Yang
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Steven T Rosen
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.
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2
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Xuan YF, Lu S, Ou YJ, Bao XB, Huan XJ, Song SS, Miao ZH, Wang YQ. The combination of methionine adenosyltransferase 2A inhibitor and methyltransferase like 3 inhibitor promotes apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells and produces synergistic anti-tumor activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 716:150011. [PMID: 38704890 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Methionine adenosyltransferase 2 A (MAT2A) mediates the synthesis of methyl donor S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM), providing raw materials for methylation reactions in cells. MAT2A inhibitors are currently used for the treatment of tumors with methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) deficiency in clinical research. Methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) catalyzes N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of mRNA in mammalian cells using SAM as the substrate which has been shown to affect the tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from multiple perspectives. MAT2A-induced SAM depletion may have the potential to inhibit the methyl transfer function of METTL3. Therefore, in order to expand the applicability of inhibitors, improve anti-tumor effects and reduce toxicity, the combinational effect of MAT2A inhibitor AG-270 and METTL3 inhibitor STM2457 was evaluated in NSCLC. The results showed that this combination induced cell apoptosis rather than cell cycle arrest, which was non-tissue-specific and was independent of MTAP expression status, resulting in a significant synergistic anti-tumor effect. We further elucidated that the combination-induced enhanced apoptosis was associated with the decreased m6A level, leading to downregulation of PI3K/AKT protein, ultimately activating the apoptosis-related proteins. Unexpectedly, although combination therapy resulted in metabolic recombination, no significant change in methionine metabolic metabolites was found. More importantly, the combination also exerted synergistic effects in vivo. In summary, the combination of MAT2A inhibitor and METTL3 inhibitor showed synergistic effects both in vivo and in vitro, which laid a theoretical foundation for expanding the clinical application research of the two types of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fei Xuan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ying-Jie Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xu-Bin Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xia-Juan Huan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Shan-Shan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ze-Hong Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Ying-Qing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Cancer Research Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China.
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3
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Holtz AG, Lowe TL, Aoki Y, Kubota Y, Hoffman RM, Clarke SG. Asymmetric and symmetric protein arginine methylation in methionine-addicted human cancer cells. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0296291. [PMID: 38134182 PMCID: PMC10745221 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296291] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The methionine addiction of cancer cells is known as the Hoffman effect. While non-cancer cells in culture can utilize homocysteine in place of methionine for cellular growth, most cancer cells require exogenous methionine for proliferation. It has been suggested that a biochemical basis of this effect is the increased utilization of methionine for S-adenosylmethionine, the major methyl donor for a variety of cellular methyltransferases. Recent studies have pointed to the role of S-adenosylmethionine-dependent protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) in cell proliferation and cancer. To further understand the biochemical basis of the methionine addiction of cancer cells, we compared protein arginine methylation in two previously described isogenic cell lines, a methionine-addicted 143B human osteosarcoma cell line and its less methionine-dependent revertant. Previous work showed that the revertant cells were significantly less malignant than the parental cells. In the present study, we utilized antibodies to detect the asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) products of PRMTs in polypeptides from cellular extracts and purified histone preparations of these cell lines fractionated by SDS-PAGE. Importantly, we observed little to no differences in the banding patterns of ADMA- and SDMA-containing species between the osteosarcoma parental and revertant cell lines. Furthermore, enzymatic activity assays using S-adenosyl-ʟ-[methyl-3H] methionine, recombinantly purified PRMT enzymes, cell lysates, and specific PRMT inhibitors revealed no major differences in radiolabeled polypeptides on SDS-PAGE gels. Taken together, these results suggest that changes in protein arginine methylation may not be major contributors to the Hoffman effect and that other consequences of methionine addiction may be more important in the metastasis and malignancy of osteosarcoma and potentially other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley G Holtz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Troy L Lowe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Yusuke Aoki
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Yutaro Kubota
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Steven G Clarke
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
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4
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Mirisola MG. The Nutriepigenome. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1997. [PMID: 38002940 PMCID: PMC10671240 DOI: 10.3390/genes14111997] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Unlike genetic changes, epigenetics modulates gene expression without stable modification of the genome. Even though all cells, including sperm and egg, have an epigenome pattern, most of these modifications occur during lifetime and interestingly, some of them, are reversible. Lifestyle and especially nutrients as well as diet regimens are presently gaining importance due to their ability to affect the epigenome. On the other hand, since the epigenome profoundly affects gene expression profile it can be speculated that the epigenome could modulate individual response to nutrients. Recent years have thus seen growing interest on nutrients, macronutrients ratio and diet regimens capable to affect the epigenetic pattern. In fact, while genetic alterations are mostly detrimental at the individual level, reshaping the epigenome may be a feasible strategy to positively counteract the detrimental effect of aging. Here, I review nutrient consumption and diet regimens as a possible strategy to counteract aging-driven epigenome derangement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario G Mirisola
- STeBiCeF Department, Università di Palermo, Building 16, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
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Yang PW, Jiao JY, Chen Z, Zhu XY, Cheng CS. Keep a watchful eye on methionine adenosyltransferases, novel therapeutic opportunities for hepatobiliary and pancreatic tumours. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188793. [PMID: 36089205 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Methionine adenosyltransferases (MATs) synthesize S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) from methionine, which provides methyl groups for DNA, RNA, protein, and lipid methylation. MATs play a critical role in cellular processes, including growth, proliferation, and differentiation, and have been implicated in tumour development and progression. The expression of MATs is altered in hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HBP) cancers, which serves as a rare biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of HBP cancers. Independent of SAM depletion in cells, MATs are often dysregulated at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels. Dysregulation of MATs is involved in carcinogenesis, chemotherapy resistance, T cell exhaustion, activation of tumour-associated macrophages, cancer stemness, and activation of tumourigenic pathways. Targeting MATs both directly and indirectly is a potential therapeutic strategy. This review summarizes the dysregulations of MATs, their proposed mechanism, diagnostic and prognostic roles, and potential therapeutic effects in context of HBP cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Wen Yang
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ju-Ying Jiao
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Zhu
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Chien-Shan Cheng
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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Guo J, Yang Y, Buettner R, Rosen ST. Targeting the methionine-methionine adenosyl transferase 2A- S -adenosyl methionine axis for cancer therapy. Curr Opin Oncol 2022; 34:546-551. [PMID: 35788128 PMCID: PMC9365249 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000870] [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] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this review, we summarize the biological roles of methionine, methionine adenosyl transferase 2A (MAT2A) and S -adenosyl methionine (SAM) in methylation reactions during tumorigenesis. Newly emerged inhibitors targeting the methionine-MAT2A-SAM axis will be discussed. RECENT FINDINGS SAM is the critical and global methyl-donor for methylation reactions regulating gene expression, and in mammalian cells, it is synthesized by MAT2A using methionine. Recent studies have validated methionine and MAT2A as metabolic dependencies of cancer cells because of their essential roles in SAM biosynthesis. MAT2A inhibition leads to synthetic lethality in methylthioadenosine-phosphorylase (MTAP)-deleted cancers, which accounts for 15% of all cancer types. Of note, remarkable progress has been made in developing inhibitors targeting the methionine-MAT2A-SAM axis, as the first-in-class MAT2A inhibitors AG-270 and IDE397 enter clinical trials to treat cancer. SUMMARY The methionine-MAT2A-SAM axis plays an important role in tumorigenesis by providing SAM as a critical substrate for abnormal protein as well as DNA and RNA methylation in cancer cells. Targeting SAM biosynthesis through MAT2A inhibition has emerged as a novel and promising strategy for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiamin Guo
- Hematology Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
| | - Yanzhong Yang
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Cancer Center, Duarte, California
| | - Ralf Buettner
- Hematology Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
| | - Steven T. Rosen
- Hematology Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
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Keating ST, El-Osta A. Metaboloepigenetics in cancer, immunity and cardiovascular disease. Cardiovasc Res 2022; 119:357-370. [PMID: 35389425 PMCID: PMC10064843 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvac058] [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: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of cellular metabolism on epigenetic pathways are well documented but misunderstood. Scientists have long known of the metabolic impact on epigenetic determinants. More often than not, that title role for DNA methylation was portrayed by the metabolite SAM or S-adenosylmethionine. Technically speaking there are many other metabolites that drive epigenetic processes that instruct seemingly distant - yet highly connect pathways - and none more so than our understanding of the cancer epigenome. Recent studies have shown that available energy link the extracellular environment to influence cellular responses. This focused review examines the recent interest in epigenomics and casts cancer, metabolism and immunity in unfamiliar roles - cooperating. There are not only language lessons from cancer research, we have come round to appreciate that reaching into areas previously thought of as too distinct are also object lessons in understanding health and disease. The Warburg effect is one such signature of how glycolysis influences metabolic shift during oncogenesis. That shift in metabolism - now recognised as central to proliferation in cancer biology - influence core enzymes that not only control gene expression but are also central to replication, condensation and the repair of nucleic acid. These nuclear processes rely on metabolism and with glucose at center stage the role of respiration and oxidative metabolism are now synonymous with the mitochondria as the powerhouses of metaboloepigenetics. The emerging evidence for metaboloepigenetics in trained innate immunity has revealed recognisable signalling pathways with antecedent extracellular stimulation. With due consideration to immunometabolism we discuss the striking signalling similarities influencing these core pathways. The immunometabolic-epigenetic axis in cardiovascular disease has deeply etched connections with inflammation and we examine the chromatin template as a carrier of epigenetic indices that determine the expression of genes influencing atherosclerosis and vascular complications of diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel T Keating
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2200, Denmark
| | - Assam El-Osta
- Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.,Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease Laboratory, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.,Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.,Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 3/F Lui Che Woo Clinical Sciences Building, 30-32 Ngan Shing Street, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.,University College Copenhagen, Faculty of Health, Department of Technology, Biomedical Laboratory Science, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Gregorio JD, Petricca S, Iorio R, Toniato E, Flati V. MITOCHONDRIAL AND METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN CANCER CELLS. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151225. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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9
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Floros KV, Chawla AT, Johnson-Berro MO, Khatri R, Stamatouli AM, Boikos SA, Dozmorov MG, Cowart LA, Faber AC. MYCN upregulates the transsulfuration pathway to suppress the ferroptotic vulnerability in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. Cell Stress 2022; 6:21-29. [PMID: 35174317 PMCID: PMC8802432 DOI: 10.15698/cst2022.02.264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent, oxidative form of cell death that is countered mainly by glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and the production of glutathione (GSH), which is formed from cysteine. The identification of the cancers that may benefit from pharmacological ferroptotic induction is just emerging. We recently demonstrated that inducing ferroptosis genetically or pharmacologically in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma (NB) is a novel and effective way to kill these cells. MYCN increases iron metabolism and subsequent hydroxyl radicals through increased expression of the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and low levels of the ferroportin receptor. To counter increased hydroxyl radicals, MYCN binds to the promoter of SLC3A2 (solute carrier family 3 member 2). SLC3A2 is a subunit of system Xc-, which is the cysteine-glutamate antiporter that exports glutamate and imports cystine. Cystine is converted to cysteine intracellularly. Here, we investigated other ways MYCN may increase cysteine levels. By performing metabolomics in a syngeneic NB cell line either expressing MYCN or GFP, we demonstrate that the transsulfuration pathway is activated by MYCN. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MYCN-amplified NB cell lines and tumors have higher levels of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS), the rate-limiting enzyme in transsulfuration, which leads to higher levels of the thioether cystathionine (R-S-(2-amino-2-carboxyethyl)-l-homocysteine). In addition, MYCN-amplified NB tumors have high levels of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), an enzyme that helps salvage methionine following polyamine metabolism. MYCN directly binds to the promoter of MTAP. We propose that MYCN orchestrates both enhanced cystine uptake and enhanced activity of the transsulfuration pathway to counteract increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) from iron-induced Fenton reactions, ultimately contributing to a ferroptosis vulnerability in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos V. Floros
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, VCU School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Ayesha T. Chawla
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, VCU School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Mia O. Johnson-Berro
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, VCU School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Rishabh Khatri
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, VCU School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Angeliki M. Stamatouli
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sosipatros A. Boikos
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Virginia Commonwealth University and Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Mikhail G. Dozmorov
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - L. Ashley Cowart
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Hunter Holmes McGuire Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Anthony C. Faber
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, VCU School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Histone H3 lysine-trimethylation markers are decreased by recombinant methioninase and increased by methotrexate at concentrations which inhibit methionine-addicted osteosarcoma cell proliferation. Biochem Biophys Rep 2021; 28:101177. [PMID: 34877414 PMCID: PMC8633566 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.101177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Methionine addiction is a fundamental and general hallmark of cancer cells, which require exogenous methionine, despite their ability to synthesize normal amounts of methionine from homocysteine. In contrast, methionine-independent normal cells do not require exogenous methionine in the presence of a methionine precursor. The methionine addiction of cancer cells is due to excess transmethylation reactions. We have previously shown that histone H3 lysine marks are over-methylated in cancer cells and the over-methylation is unstable when the cancer cells are restricted of methionine. In the present study, we show that methionine-addicted osteosarcoma cells are sensitive to both methotrexate (MTX) and recombinant methioninase (rMETase), but they affect histone H3 lysine-methylation in the opposite direction. Concentrations of MTX and rMETase, which inhibit osteosarcoma cells viability to 20%, had opposing effects on the status of histone methylation of H3K9me3 and H3K27me3. rMETase significantly decreased the amount of H3K9me3 and H3K27me3. In contrast, MTX significantly increased the amount of H3K9me and H3K27me3. The results suggest that increase or decrease in these methylated histone lysine marks is associated with proliferation arrest of methionine-addicted osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma cells are sensitive to both methotrexate and recombinant methioninase. MTX increased the amount of H3K9me and H3K27me3. RMETase decreased the amount of H3K9me3 and H3K27me3. Increase/decrease in H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 is associated with proliferation arrest.
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Aoki Y, Yamamoto J, Tome Y, Hamada K, Masaki N, Inubushi S, Tashiro Y, Bouvet M, Endo I, Nishida K, Hoffman RM. Over-methylation of Histone H3 Lysines Is a Common Molecular Change Among the Three Major Types of Soft-tissue Sarcoma in Patient-derived Xenograft (PDX) Mouse Models. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2021; 18:715-721. [PMID: 34697064 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Sarcomas are considered a heterogeneous disease with incomplete understanding of its molecular basis. In the present study, to further understand general molecular changes in sarcoma, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models of the three most common soft-tissue sarcomas: myxofibrosarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) and liposarcoma were established and the methylation status of histone H3 lysine marks was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunoblotting and immunohistochemical staining were used to quantify the extent of methylation of histone H3K4me3 and histone H3K9me3. RESULTS In all 3 sarcoma types in PDX models, histone H3K4me3 and H3K9me3 were found highly over-methylated compared to normal muscle tissue. CONCLUSION Histone H3 lysine over-methylation may be a general basis of malignancy of the major sarcoma types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Aoki
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yasunori Tome
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan;
| | - Kazuyuki Hamada
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
| | - Noriyuki Masaki
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
| | - Sachiko Inubushi
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan
| | | | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
| | - Itaru Endo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kotaro Nishida
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.; .,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
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