Imaging glucose metabolism to reveal tumor progression

The active ingredient β-sitosterol in Ganoderma regulates CHRM2-mediated aerobic glycolysis to induce apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells

β-sitosterol is a natural plant steroidal compound with anti-cancer properties against various tumors. This work explored the inhibitory effect of β-sitosterol on the progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and further analyzed its targets. We applied network pharmacology to obtain the components and targets of Ganoderma spore powder. The biological functions of β-sitosterol and CHRM2 were studied using the homograft mouse model and a series of in vitro experiments involving quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blot, CCK-8, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The regulatory influence of β-sitosterol on the glycolysis pathway was validated by measuring glucose consumption and lactate production, as well as the extracellular acidification rate and oxygen consumption rate. We found that CHRM2 binds directly to β-sitosterol. In vitro, CHRM2 overexpression repressed the apoptosis rate and expression of apoptosis-related proteins in LUAD cells, and promoted glycolysis, while the addition of lonidamine attenuated the apoptosis-inhibiting effect conferred by CHRM2 overexpression. Furthermore, β-sitosterol hindered glycolysis as well as the growth of tumors in vitro and in vivo. CHRM2 overexpression reversed the effect of β-sitosterol on the biological behavior of LUAD cells. Our results emphasize that CHRM2 is a direct target of β-sitosterol in LUAD cells. β-sitosterol can repress the glycolysis pathway, exerting an anti-tumor effect. These findings provide new support for the use of β-sitosterol as a therapeutic agent for LUAD.

Metabolic Reprogramming in Cancer: Implications for Immunosuppressive Microenvironment

Cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease characterised by uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation. One hallmark of cancer cells is their ability to undergo metabolic reprogramming, which allows them to sustain their rapid growth and survival. This metabolic reprogramming creates an immunosuppressive microenvironment that facilitates tumour progression and evasion of the immune system. In this article, we review the mechanisms underlying metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells and discuss how these metabolic alterations contribute to the establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. We also explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer cells to enhance immune-mediated anti-tumour responses. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02044861, NCT03163667, NCT04265534, NCT02071927, NCT02903914, NCT03314935, NCT03361228, NCT03048500, NCT03311308, NCT03800602, NCT04414540, NCT02771626, NCT03994744, NCT03229278, NCT04899921.

Uncovering Porphyrin Accumulation in the Tumor Microenvironment

Heme, an iron-containing tetrapyrrole, is essential in almost all organisms. Heme biosynthesis needs to be precisely regulated particularly given the potential cytotoxicity of protoporphyrin IX, the intermediate preceding heme formation. Here, we report on the porphyrin intermediate accumulation within the tumor microenvironment (TME), which we propose to result from dysregulation of heme biosynthesis concomitant with an enhanced cancer survival dependence on mid-step genes, a process we recently termed "Porphyrin Overdrive". Specifically, porphyrins build up in both lung cancer cells and stromal cells in the TME. Within the TME's stromal cells, evidence supports cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) actively producing porphyrins through an imbalanced pathway. Conversely, normal tissues exhibit no porphyrin accumulation, and CAFs deprived of tumor cease porphyrin overproduction, indicating that both cancer and tumor-stromal porphyrin overproduction is confined to the cancer-specific tissue niche. The clinical relevance of our findings is implied by establishing a correlation between imbalanced porphyrin production and overall poorer survival in more aggressive cancers. These findings illuminate the anomalous porphyrin dynamics specifically within the tumor microenvironment, suggesting a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

Drug pair of Cornus officinalis and Radix achyranthis bidentatae improves renal injury of hypertension by regulating metabolic reprogramming mediated by eNOS

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effects and possible mechanisms of the drug pair Cornus officinalis and Radix achyranthis bidentatae (SYR-NX) on improving hypertensive kidney damage.

METHOD

SYR-NX, a formulation of Cornus officinalis and Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae with a dose ratio 1:2.5, was used in this experiment. We investigated the effects of SYR-NX on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) fed with a high-salt diet and Human Kidney-2 (HK2) cells exposed to hypoxia. After 8 weeks of treatment with SYR-NX, blood pressure was tested, and β 2-Microglobulin(β2-MG), blood creatinine (S-cr), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), M2 pyruvate kinase (PKM2), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), pyruvate, lactate, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)were measured. HK2 cells pre-treated with SYR-NX were cultured in a three-gas hypoxic incubator chamber (5 % CO2, 1 % O2, 94 % N2) for 12 h, and then eNOS, PKM2, NADPH, ATP, pyruvate, lactate, CTGF and TNF-α were assessed.

RESULTS

SYR-NX significantly reduced SBP, DBP, β2-MG, S-cr, PKM2, pyruvate, lactate, CTGF and TNF-α, and increased eNOS, NADPH, and ATP.

CONCLUSION

SYR-NX can regulate metabolic reprogramming through eNOS and improves hypertensive kidney injury.

Unveiling the role of PYGB in pancreatic cancer: a novel diagnostic biomarker and gene therapy target

PURPOSE

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly malignant tumor that poses a severe threat to human health. Brain glycogen phosphorylase (PYGB) breaks down glycogen and provides an energy source for tumor cells. Although PYGB has been reported in several tumors, its role in PC remains unclear.

METHODS

We constructed a risk diagnostic model of PC-related genes by WGCNA and LASSO regression and found PYGB, an essential gene in PC. Then, we explored the pro-carcinogenic role of PYGB in PC by in vivo and in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

We found that PYGB, SCL2A1, and SLC16A3 had a significant effect on the diagnosis and prognosis of PC, but PYGB had the most significant effect on the prognosis. Pan-cancer analysis showed that PYGB was highly expressed in most of the tumors but had the highest correlation with PC. In TCGA and GEO databases, we found that PYGB was highly expressed in PC tissues and correlated with PC's prognostic and pathological features. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, we found that high expression of PYGB promoted the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of PC cells. Through enrichment analysis, we found that PYGB is associated with several key cell biological processes and signaling pathways. In experiments, we validated that the MAPK/ERK pathway is involved in the pro-tumorigenic mechanism of PYGB in PC.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that PYGB promotes PC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, leading to poor patient prognosis. PYGB gene may be a novel diagnostic biomarker and gene therapy target for PC.