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Clerici S, Podrini C, Stefanoni D, Distefano G, Cassina L, Steidl ME, Tronci L, Canu T, Chiaravalli M, Spies D, Bell TA, Costa AS, Esposito A, D'Alessandro A, Frezza C, Bachi A, Boletta A. Inhibition of asparagine synthetase effectively retards polycystic kidney disease progression. EMBO Mol Med 2024:10.1038/s44321-024-00071-9. [PMID: 38684863 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00071-9] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder characterized by bilateral cyst formation. We showed that PKD cells and kidneys display metabolic alterations, including the Warburg effect and glutaminolysis, sustained in vitro by the enzyme asparagine synthetase (ASNS). Here, we used antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) against Asns in orthologous and slowly progressive PKD murine models and show that treatment leads to a drastic reduction of total kidney volume (measured by MRI) and a prominent rescue of renal function in the mouse. Mechanistically, the upregulation of an ATF4-ASNS axis in PKD is driven by the amino acid response (AAR) branch of the integrated stress response (ISR). Metabolic profiling of PKD or control kidneys treated with Asns-ASO or Scr-ASO revealed major changes in the mutants, several of which are rescued by Asns silencing in vivo. Indeed, ASNS drives glutamine-dependent de novo pyrimidine synthesis and proliferation in cystic epithelia. Notably, while several metabolic pathways were completely corrected by Asns-ASO, glycolysis was only partially restored. Accordingly, combining the glycolytic inhibitor 2DG with Asns-ASO further improved efficacy. Our studies identify a new therapeutic target and novel metabolic vulnerabilities in PKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Clerici
- Molecular Basis of Cystic Kidney Disorders Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Christine Podrini
- Molecular Basis of Cystic Kidney Disorders Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- The BioArte Ltd, Laboratories at Malta Life Science Park (LS2.1.10, LS2.1.12-LS2.1.15), Triq San Giljan, San Gwann, SGN, 3000, Malta
| | - Davide Stefanoni
- Molecular Basis of Cystic Kidney Disorders Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Distefano
- Molecular Basis of Cystic Kidney Disorders Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Cassina
- Molecular Basis of Cystic Kidney Disorders Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Elena Steidl
- Molecular Basis of Cystic Kidney Disorders Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Tronci
- Cogentech SRL Benefit Corporation, 20139, Milan, Italy
- IFOM ETS The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Tamara Canu
- Center for Experimental Imaging (CIS), IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Chiaravalli
- Molecular Basis of Cystic Kidney Disorders Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniel Spies
- Molecular Basis of Cystic Kidney Disorders Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Center for Omics Sciences (COSR), IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Ana Sh Costa
- MRC, Cancer Unit Cambridge, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Box 197, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0XZ, UK
- Matterworks, Inc, 444 Somerville Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143, USA
| | - Antonio Esposito
- Center for Experimental Imaging (CIS), IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo D'Alessandro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christian Frezza
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Cluster of Excellence Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26-50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Angela Bachi
- IFOM ETS The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Boletta
- Molecular Basis of Cystic Kidney Disorders Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
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Hu T, Shukla SK, Vernucci E, He C, Wang D, King RJ, Jha K, Siddhanta K, Mullen NJ, Attri KS, Murthy D, Chaika NV, Thakur R, Mulder SE, Pacheco CG, Fu X, High RR, Yu F, Lazenby A, Steegborn C, Lan P, Mehla K, Rotili D, Chaudhary S, Valente S, Tafani M, Mai A, Auwerx J, Verdin E, Tuveson D, Singh PK. Metabolic Rewiring by Loss of Sirt5 Promotes Kras-Induced Pancreatic Cancer Progression. Gastroenterology 2021; 161:1584-1600. [PMID: 34245764 PMCID: PMC8546779 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.06.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS SIRT5 plays pleiotropic roles via post-translational modifications, serving as a tumor suppressor, or an oncogene, in different tumors. However, the role SIRT5 plays in the initiation and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unknown. METHODS Published datasets and tissue arrays with SIRT5 staining were used to investigate the clinical relevance of SIRT5 in PDAC. Furthermore, to define the role of SIRT5 in the carcinogenesis of PDAC, we generated autochthonous mouse models with conditional Sirt5 knockout. Moreover, to examine the mechanistic role of SIRT5 in PDAC carcinogenesis, SIRT5 was knocked down in PDAC cell lines and organoids, followed by metabolomics and proteomics studies. A novel SIRT5 activator was used for therapeutic studies in organoids and patient-derived xenografts. RESULTS SIRT5 expression negatively regulated tumor cell proliferation and correlated with a favorable prognosis in patients with PDAC. Genetic ablation of Sirt5 in PDAC mouse models promoted acinar-to-ductal metaplasia, precursor lesions, and pancreatic tumorigenesis, resulting in poor survival. Mechanistically, SIRT5 loss enhanced glutamine and glutathione metabolism via acetylation-mediated activation of GOT1. A selective SIRT5 activator, MC3138, phenocopied the effects of SIRT5 overexpression and exhibited antitumor effects on human PDAC cells. MC3138 also diminished nucleotide pools, sensitizing human PDAC cell lines, organoids, and patient-derived xenografts to gemcitabine. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, we identify SIRT5 as a key tumor suppressor in PDAC, whose loss promotes tumorigenesis through increased noncanonic use of glutamine via GOT1, and that SIRT5 activation is a novel therapeutic strategy to target PDAC.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/pharmacology
- Aspartate Aminotransferase, Cytoplasmic/genetics
- Aspartate Aminotransferase, Cytoplasmic/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/enzymology
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/genetics
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Deoxycytidine/analogs & derivatives
- Deoxycytidine/pharmacology
- Disease Progression
- Energy Metabolism/drug effects
- Enzyme Activation
- Enzyme Activators/pharmacology
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, SCID
- Mutation
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/enzymology
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Sirtuins/deficiency
- Sirtuins/genetics
- Tumor Burden
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Gemcitabine
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Hu
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Colorectal Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Surendra K Shukla
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Enza Vernucci
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Chunbo He
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Dezhen Wang
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Ryan J King
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Kanupriya Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Bennett University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Kasturi Siddhanta
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Nicholas J Mullen
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Kuldeep S Attri
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Divya Murthy
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Nina V Chaika
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Ravi Thakur
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Scott E Mulder
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Camila G Pacheco
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Xiao Fu
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Robin R High
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Fang Yu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Audrey Lazenby
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Clemens Steegborn
- University of Bayreuth, Department of Biochemistry, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Ping Lan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Kamiya Mehla
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Dante Rotili
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sarika Chaudhary
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Bennett University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sergio Valente
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Tafani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Mai
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Johan Auwerx
- Laboratory for Integrative Systems Physiology, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eric Verdin
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California
| | - David Tuveson
- Cancer Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
| | - Pankaj K Singh
- The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
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Abstract
Reliance on glutamine has long been considered a hallmark of cancer cell metabolism. However, some recent studies have challenged this notion in vivo, prompting a need for further clarifications on the role of glutamine metabolism in cancer. We find that there is ample evidence of an essential role for glutamine in tumors and that a variety of factors, including tissue type, the underlying cancer genetics, the tumor microenvironment and other variables such as diet and host physiology collectively influence the role of glutamine in cancer. Thus the requirements for glutamine in cancer are overall highly heterogeneous. In this review, we discuss the implications both for basic science and for targeting glutamine metabolism in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad A Cluntun
- Graduate Field of Biochemistry, Molecular & Cell Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael J Lukey
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Richard A Cerione
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA
| | - Jason W Locasale
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
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