1
|
Sun M, Zhao M, Li R, Zhang Y, Shi X, Ding C, Ma C, Lu J, Yue X. SHMT2 promotes papillary thyroid cancer metastasis through epigenetic activation of AKT signaling. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:87. [PMID: 38272883 PMCID: PMC10811326 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06476-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells alter their metabolism and epigenetics to support cancer progression. However, very few modulators connecting metabolism and epigenetics have been uncovered. Here, we reveal that serine hydroxymethyltransferase-2 (SHMT2) generates S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to epigenetically repress phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), leading to papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) metastasis depending on activation of AKT signaling. SHMT2 is elevated in PTC, and is associated with poor prognosis. Overexpressed SHMT2 promotes PTC metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Proteomic enrichment analysis shows that AKT signaling is activated, and is positively associated with SHMT2 in PTC specimens. Blocking AKT activation eliminates the effects of SHMT2 on promoting PTC metastasis. Furthermore, SHMT2 expression is negatively associated with PTEN, a negative AKT regulator, in PTC specimens. Mechanistically, SHMT2 catalyzes serine metabolism and produces activated one-carbon units that can generate SAM for the methylation of CpG islands in PTEN promoter for PTEN suppression and following AKT activation. Importantly, interference with PTEN expression affects SHMT2 function by promoting AKT signaling activation and PTC metastasis. Collectively, our research demonstrates that SHMT2 connects metabolic reprogramming and epigenetics, contributing to the poor progression of PTC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Mingjian Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Ruowen Li
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Yankun Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Xiaojia Shi
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Changyuan Ding
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Chunhong Ma
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Jinghui Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
| | - Xuetian Yue
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
| |
Collapse
|