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Chen KC, Hsiao IH, Huang YN, Chou YT, Lin YC, Hsieh JY, Chang YL, Wu KH, Liu GY, Hung HC. Targeting human mitochondrial NAD(P) +-dependent malic enzyme (ME2) impairs energy metabolism and redox state and exhibits antileukemic activity in acute myeloid leukemia. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2023; 46:1301-1316. [PMID: 37079187 PMCID: PMC10618384 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-023-00812-x] [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] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a fast-growing and highly fatal blood cancer, and recent research has shown that targeting metabolism may be a promising therapeutic approach for treating AML. One promising target is the human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme (ME2), which is involved in the production of pyruvate and NAD(P)H and the regulation of the NAD+/NADH redox balance. Inhibition of ME2 via silencing ME2 or utilizing its allosteric inhibitor disodium embonate (Na2EA) causes a decrease in pyruvate and NADH, leading to a decrease in producing ATP via cellular respiration and oxidative phosphorylation. ME2 inhibition also decreases NADPH levels, resulting in an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress, which ultimately leads to cellular apoptosis. Additionally, ME2 inhibition reduces pyruvate metabolism and the biosynthetic pathway. ME2 silencing inhibits the growth of xenotransplanted human AML cells, and the allosteric ME2 inhibitor Na2EA demonstrates antileukemic activity against immune-deficient mice with disseminated AML. Both of these effects are a result of impaired energy metabolism in mitochondria. These findings suggest that the targeting ME2 may be an effective strategy for treating AML. Overall, ME2 plays an essential role in energy metabolism of AML cells, and its inhibition may offer a promising approach for AML treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-Chi Chen
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - I-Hsin Hsiao
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Nan Huang
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Tung Chou
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Lin
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ju-Yi Hsieh
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Lung Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kang-Hsi Wu
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Guang-Yaw Liu
- Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Chih Hung
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
- iEGG & Animal Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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