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Sapkota D, Wang D, Schreurs O, Vallenari EM, Pandey Dhakal S, Küntziger T, Toközlü BS, Utheim TP, Chaudhry FA. Investigation of Roles of SLC38A1 in Proliferation and Differentiation of Mouse Tongue Epithelium and Expression in Human Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:405. [PMID: 38254895 PMCID: PMC10814082 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020405] [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: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The aerobic glycolytic pathway, boosting lactate formation, and glutamine addiction are two hallmarks of cancer pathophysiology. Consistent with this, several cell membrane glutamine transporters, belonging to different solute carrier (SLC) families, have been shown to be upregulated in a cell-specific manner to furnish the cells with glutamine and glutamine-derived metabolic intermediates. Among them, the system A transporter Slc38a1 has a higher affinity for glutamine compared to other SLC transporters, and it undergoes highly multifaceted regulation at gene and protein levels. The current study aimed to investigate the functional role of Slc38a1 in the proliferation and maturation of the mouse tongue epithelium. Secondly, we aimed to examine the expression of SLC38A1 and its regulation in human tongue oral squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). Employing Slc38a1 wild-type and knockout mice, we showed that Slc38a1 was not directly linked to the regulation of the proliferation and differentiation of the mouse tongue epithelium. External transcriptomic datasets and Western blot analyses showed upregulation of SLC38A1 mRNA/protein in human OTSCC and oral cancer cell lines as compared to the corresponding controls. Further, an investigation of external datasets indicated that mechanisms other than the amplification of the SLC38A1 chromosomal locus or hypomethylation of the SLC38A1 promoter region might be important for the upregulation of SLC38A1 in OTSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipak Sapkota
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Daxin Wang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Olaf Schreurs
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Evan M. Vallenari
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Sushma Pandey Dhakal
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Thomas Küntziger
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Burcu Sengüven Toközlü
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Gazi University, Ankara 06510, Turkey
| | - Tor Paaske Utheim
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Farrukh Abbas Chaudhry
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0372 Oslo, Norway
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Sugiura A, Beier KL, Chi C, Heintzman DR, Ye X, Wolf MM, Patterson AR, Cephus JY, Hong HS, Lyssiotis CA, Newcomb DC, Rathmell JC. Tissue-Specific Dependence of Th1 Cells on the Amino Acid Transporter SLC38A1 in Inflammation. bioRxiv 2023:2023.09.13.557496. [PMID: 37745344 PMCID: PMC10515961 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.13.557496] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Amino acid (AA) uptake is essential for T cell metabolism and function, but how tissue sites and inflammation affect CD4+ T cell subset requirements for specific AA remains uncertain. Here we tested CD4+ T cell AA demands with in vitro and multiple in vivo CRISPR screens and identify subset- and tissue-specific dependencies on the AA transporter SLC38A1 (SNAT1). While dispensable for T cell persistence and expansion over time in vitro and in vivo lung inflammation, SLC38A1 was critical for Th1 but not Th17 cell-driven Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) and contributed to Th1 cell-driven inflammatory bowel disease. SLC38A1 deficiency reduced mTORC1 signaling and glycolytic activity in Th1 cells, in part by reducing intracellular glutamine and disrupting hexosamine biosynthesis and redox regulation. Similarly, pharmacological inhibition of SLC38 transporters delayed EAE but did not affect lung inflammation. Subset- and tissue-specific dependencies of CD4+ T cells on AA transporters may guide selective immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayaka Sugiura
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Katherine L. Beier
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Channing Chi
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Darren R. Heintzman
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Xiang Ye
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Melissa M. Wolf
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Andrew R. Patterson
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jacqueline-Yvonne Cephus
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Hanna S. Hong
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - Costas A. Lyssiotis
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - Dawn C. Newcomb
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jeffrey C. Rathmell
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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Yoneda Y, Kawada K, Kuramoto N. Selective Upregulation by Theanine of Slc38a1 Expression in Neural Stem Cell for Brain Wellness. Molecules 2020; 25:E347. [PMID: 31952134 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25020347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Theanine is an amino acid abundant in green tea with an amide moiety analogous to glutamine (GLN) rather than glutamic acid (Glu) and GABA, which are both well-known as amino acid neurotransmitters in the brain. Theanine has no polyphenol and flavonoid structures required for an anti-oxidative property as seen with catechins and tannins, which are more enriched in green tea. We have shown marked inhibition by this exogenous amino acid theanine of the uptake of [3H]GLN, but not of [3H]Glu, in rat brain synaptosomes. Beside a ubiquitous role as an endogenous amino acid, GLN has been believed to be a main precursor for the neurotransmitter Glu sequestered in a neurotransmitter pool at glutamatergic neurons in the brain. The GLN transporter solute carrier 38a1 (Slc38a1) plays a crucial role in the incorporation of extracellular GLN for the intracellular conversion to Glu by glutaminase and subsequent sequestration at synaptic vesicles in neurons. However, Slc38a1 is also expressed by undifferentiated neural progenitor cells (NPCs) not featuring a neuronal phenotype. NPCs are derived from a primitive stem cell endowed to proliferate for self-renewal and to commit differentiation to several daughter cell lineages such as neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. In vitro culture with theanine leads to the marked promotion of the generation of new neurons together with selective upregulation of Slc38a1 transcript expression in NPCs. In this review, we will refer to a possible novel neurogenic role of theanine for brain wellness through a molecular mechanism relevant to facilitated neurogenesis with a focus on Slc38a1 expressed by undifferentiated NPCs on the basis of our accumulating findings to date.
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Menchini RJ, Chaudhry FA. Multifaceted regulation of the system A transporter Slc38a2 suggests nanoscale regulation of amino acid metabolism and cellular signaling. Neuropharmacology 2019; 161:107789. [PMID: 31574264 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Amino acids are essential for cellular protein synthesis, growth, metabolism, signaling and in stress responses. Cell plasma membranes harbor specialized transporters accumulating amino acids to support a variety of cellular biochemical pathways. Several transporters for neutral amino acids have been characterized. However, Slc38a2 (also known as SA1, SAT2, ATA2, SNAT2) representing the classical transport system A activity stands in a unique position: Being a secondarily active transporter energized by the electrochemical gradient of Na+, it creates steep concentration gradients for amino acids such as glutamine: this may subsequently drive the accumulation of additional neutral amino acids through exchange via transport systems ASC and L. Slc38a2 is ubiquitously expressed, yet in a cell-specific manner. In this review, we show that Slc38a2 is regulated at the transcriptional and translational levels as well as by ions and proteins through direct interactions. We describe how Slc38a2 senses amino acid availability and passes this onto intracellular signaling pathways and how it regulates protein synthesis, cellular proliferation and apoptosis through the mechanistic (mammalian) target of rapamycin (mTOR) and general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) pathways. Furthermore, we review how this extensively regulated transporter contributes to cellular osmoadaptation and how it is regulated by endoplasmic reticulum stress and various hormonal stimuli to promote cellular metabolism, cellular signaling and cell survival. This article is part of the issue entitled 'Special Issue on Neurotransmitter Transporters'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Farrukh Abbas Chaudhry
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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Yang X, Tao Z, Zhu Z, Liao H, Zhao Y, Fan H. MicroRNA-593-3p regulates insulin-promoted glucose consumption by targeting Slc38a1 and CLIP3. J Mol Endocrinol 2016; 57:211-222. [PMID: 27613819 DOI: 10.1530/jme-16-0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Insulin plays an important role in the regulation of glucose metabolism. However, the molecular mechanisms involved are not entirely clarified. In this context, we found that miR-593-3p negatively regulates insulin-regulated glucose metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and Bel7402 cells. We then identified Slc38a1 and CLIP3 as novel targets of miR-593-3p. Further studies demonstrated that Slc38a1 and CLIP3 mediate insulin-regulated glucose metabolism. Interestingly, we also demonstrated that miR-593-3p expression was negatively associated with Slc38a1 and CLIP3 expression in insulin-treated HepG2 cells, and insulin-induced Slc38a1 and CLIP3 expression via downregulation of miR-593-3p. Taken together, this study indicates that inhibition of miRNA-593-3p by insulin promotes glucose metabolism through the regulation of Slc38a1 and CLIP3 expression, and provides a new insight into the role and mechanism of insulin-induced glycolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xilin Yang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zezhang Tao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhanyong Zhu
- Department of Plastic SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hua Liao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yueqiang Zhao
- Department of Plastic SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Huajun Fan
- Department of Plastic SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Xie J, Chen Z, Liu L, Li P, Zhu X, Gao H, Meng Z. shRNA-mediated Slc38a1 silencing inhibits migration, but not invasiveness of human pancreatic cancer cells. Chin J Cancer Res 2013; 25:514-9. [PMID: 24255574 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.1000-9604.2013.09.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Early metastasis is a major biological feature of pancreatic cancer. The current study examined whether silencing Slc38a1, a gene involved in energy metabolism, using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) could inhibit the growth, migration, and invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells. METHODS A series of Slc38a1 shRNAs were designed and cloned into the pGPU6/GFP/Neo vectors. An shRNA with the most efficacious inhibitory action on SCL38A1 expression (65% inhibition) upon screening in DH5α bacteria was used to transfect SW1990 human pancreatic cancer cells. Cell growth, migration, and invasiveness were examined using cell counting kit-8, Boyden chamber without and with Matrigel, respectively. RESULTS Transfection of SW1990 cells with the SLCs38A1 shRNA significantly decreased the proliferation (P<0.0001) and migratory potential (by 46.7%, P=0.0399) of the cancer cells. Invasiveness, however, was not affected. CONCLUSIONS Inhibiting Slc38a1 using shRNA technology could decrease the growth and migration of representative pancreatic cancer cells. However, the fact that invasiveness was not affected suggested that SLC38A1 is unlikely to be responsible for early metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xie
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Solbu TT, Bjørkmo M, Berghuis P, Harkany T, Chaudhry FA. SAT1, A Glutamine Transporter, is Preferentially Expressed in GABAergic Neurons. Front Neuroanat 2010; 4:1. [PMID: 20161990 PMCID: PMC2820376 DOI: 10.3389/neuro.05.001.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2009] [Accepted: 12/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Subsets of GABAergic neurons are able to maintain high frequency discharge patterns, which requires efficient replenishment of the releasable pool of GABA. Although glutamine is considered a preferred precursor of GABA, the identity of transporters involved in glutamine uptake by GABAergic neurons remains elusive. Molecular analyses revealed that SAT1 (Slc38a1) features system A characteristics with a preferential affinity for glutamine, and that SAT1 mRNA expression is associated with GABAergic neurons. By generating specific antibodies against SAT1 we show that this glutamine carrier is particularly enriched in GABAergic neurons. Cellular SAT1 distribution resembles that of GAD67, an essential GABA synthesis enzyme, suggesting that SAT1 can be involved in translocating glutamine into GABAergic neurons to facilitate inhibitory neurotransmitter generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Tallak Solbu
- The Biotechnology Centre of Oslo, University of Oslo Oslo, Norway
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