bims-stacyt Biomed News
on Metabolism and the paracrine crosstalk between cancer and the organism
Issue of 2023‒09‒17
nine papers selected by
Cristina Muñoz Pinedo, L’Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge
  1. Tumor microenvironmental nutrients, cellular responses, and cancer.
  2. Serine starvation silences estrogen receptor signaling through histone hypoacetylation.
  3. Novel XBP1s-independent function of IRE1 RNase in HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis upregulation in human macrophages upon stimulation with LPS or saturated fatty acid.
  4. Interleukin-6 Facilitates Acute Myeloid Leukemia Chemoresistance via Mitofusin 1-Mediated Mitochondrial Fusion.
  5. Tumor suppressor p53 mediates interleukin-6 expression to enable cancer cell evasion of genotoxic stress.
  6. The Role of Stroma in Cancer Metabolism.
  7. Translational control of murine adiponectin expression by an upstream open reading frame element.
  8. Screening in serum-derived medium reveals differential response to compounds targeting metabolism.
  9. Exosome-mediated metabolic reprogramming: Implications in esophageal carcinoma progression and tumor microenvironment remodeling.
  1. Cell Chem Biol. 2023 Sep 01. pii: S2451-9456(23)00281-7. [Epub ahead of print]
    Tumor microenvironmental nutrients, cellular responses, and cancer.
    Graham P Lobel, Yanqing Jiang, M Celeste Simon.
      Over the last two decades, the rapidly expanding field of tumor metabolism has enhanced our knowledge of the impact of nutrient availability on metabolic reprogramming in cancer. Apart from established roles in cancer cells themselves, various nutrients, metabolic enzymes, and stress responses are key to the activities of tumor microenvironmental immune, fibroblastic, endothelial, and other cell types that support malignant transformation. In this article, we review our current understanding of how nutrient availability affects metabolic pathways and responses in both cancer and "stromal" cells, by dissecting major examples and their regulation of cellular activity. Understanding the relationship of nutrient availability to cellular behaviors in the tumor ecosystem will broaden the horizon of exploiting novel therapeutic vulnerabilities in cancer.
    Keywords:  Cancer metabolism; cancer therapeutics; cancer-associated fibroblasts; immune cell metabolism; nutrient exchange; stress responses; tumor microenvironment
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.08.011
  2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Sep 19. 120(38): e2302489120
    Serine starvation silences estrogen receptor signaling through histone hypoacetylation.
    Albert M Li, Bo He, Dimitris Karagiannis, Yang Li, Haowen Jiang, Preethi Srinivasan, Yaniel Ramirez, Meng-Ning Zhou, Christina Curtis, Joshua J Gruber, Chao Lu, Erinn B Rankin, Jiangbin Ye.
      Loss of estrogen receptor (ER) pathway activity promotes breast cancer progression, yet how this occurs remains poorly understood. Here, we show that serine starvation, a metabolic stress often found in breast cancer, represses estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) signaling by reprogramming glucose metabolism and epigenetics. Using isotope tracing and time-resolved metabolomic analyses, we demonstrate that serine is required to maintain glucose flux through glycolysis and the TCA cycle to support acetyl-CoA generation for histone acetylation. Consequently, limiting serine depletes histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac), particularly at the promoter region of ER pathway genes including the gene encoding ERα, ESR1. Mechanistically, serine starvation impairs acetyl-CoA-dependent gene expression by inhibiting the entry of glycolytic carbon into the TCA cycle and down-regulating the mitochondrial citrate exporter SLC25A1, a critical enzyme in the production of nucleocytosolic acetyl-CoA from glucose. Consistent with this model, total H3K27ac and ERα expression are suppressed by SLC25A1 inhibition and restored by acetate, an alternate source of acetyl-CoA, in serine-free conditions. We thus uncover an unexpected role for serine in sustaining ER signaling through the regulation of acetyl-CoA metabolism.
    Keywords:  SLC25A1; breast cancer; estrogen receptor; histone acetylation; serine metabolism
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2302489120
  3. Front Immunol. 2023 ;14 1204126
    Novel XBP1s-independent function of IRE1 RNase in HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis upregulation in human macrophages upon stimulation with LPS or saturated fatty acid.
    Margaud Iovino, Megan Colonval, Chloé Wilkin, Laurent L'homme, Cédric Lassence, Manon Campas, Olivier Peulen, Pascal de Tullio, Jacques Piette, Sylvie Legrand-Poels.
      In obesity, adipose tissue infiltrating macrophages acquire a unique pro-inflammatory polarization, thereby playing a key role in the development of chronic inflammation and Type 2 diabetes. Increased saturated fatty acids (SFAs) levels have been proposed to drive this specific polarization. Accordingly, we investigated the immunometabolic reprogramming in SFA-treated human macrophages. As expected, RNA sequencing highlighted a pro-inflammatory profile but also metabolic signatures including glycolysis and hypoxia as well as a strong unfolded protein response. Glycolysis upregulation was confirmed in SFA-treated macrophages by measuring glycolytic gene expression, glucose uptake, lactate production and extracellular acidification rate. Like in LPS-stimulated macrophages, glycolysis activation in SFA-treated macrophages was dependent on HIF-1α activation and fueled the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. SFAs and LPS both induced IRE1α endoribonuclease activity, as demonstrated by XBP1 mRNA splicing, but with different kinetics matching HIF-1α activation and the glycolytic gene expression. Interestingly, the knockdown of IRE1α and/or the pharmacological inhibition of its RNase activity prevented HIF-1α activation and significantly decreased glycolysis upregulation. Surprisingly, XBP1s appeared to be dispensable, as demonstrated by the lack of inhibiting effect of XBP1s knockdown on glycolytic genes expression, glucose uptake, lactate production and HIF-1α activation. These experiments demonstrate for the first time a key role of IRE1α in HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis upregulation in macrophages stimulated with pro-inflammatory triggers like LPS or SFAs through XBP1s-independent mechanism. IRE1 could mediate this novel function by targeting other transcripts (mRNA or pre-miRNA) through a mechanism called regulated IRE1-dependent decay or RIDD. Deciphering the underlying mechanisms of this novel IRE1 function might lead to novel therapeutic targets to curtail sterile obesity- or infection-linked inflammation.
    Keywords:  HIF-1α; IRE1α; glycolysis; inflammation; macrophages; saturated fatty acid
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1204126
  4. Mol Cancer Res. 2023 Sep 12.
    Interleukin-6 Facilitates Acute Myeloid Leukemia Chemoresistance via Mitofusin 1-Mediated Mitochondrial Fusion.
    Diyu Hou, Xiaoming Zheng, Danni Cai, Ruolan You, Jingru Liu, Xiaoting Wang, Xinai Liao, Maoqing Tan, Liyan Lin, Jin Wang, Shuxia Zhang, Huifang Huang.
      Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive hematopoietic malignancy, exhibits poor prognosis and a high recurrence rate largely because of primary and secondary drug resistance. Elevated serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels have been observed in patients with AML and are associated with chemoresistance. Chemoresistant AML cells are highly dependent on oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and mitochondrial network remodeling is essential for mitochondrial function. However, IL-6-mediated regulation of mitochondrial remodeling and its effectiveness as a therapeutic target remain unclear. We aimed to determine the mechanisms through which IL-6 facilitates the development of chemoresistance in AML cells. IL-6 upregulated mitofusin 1 (MFN1)-mediated mitochondrial fusion, promoted OXPHOS, and induced chemoresistance in AML cells. MFN1 knockdown impaired the effects of IL-6 on mitochondrial function and chemoresistance in AML cells. In an MLL::AF9 fusion gene-induced AML mouse model, IL-6 reduced chemosensitivity to cytarabine (Ara-C), a commonly used anti-leukemia drug, accompanied by increased MFN1 expression, mitochondrial fusion, and OXPHOS status. In contrast, anti-IL-6 antibodies downregulated MFN1 expression, suppressed mitochondrial fusion and OXPHOS, enhanced the curative effects of Ara-C, and prolonged overall survival. In conclusion, IL-6 upregulated MFN1-mediated mitochondrial fusion in AML, which facilitated mitochondrial respiration, in turn, inducing chemoresistance. Thus, targeting IL-6 may have therapeutic implications in overcoming IL-6-mediated chemoresistance in AML. Implications: IL-6 treatment induces MFN1-mediated mitochondrial fusion, promotes OXPHOS, and confers chemoresistance in AML cells. Targeting IL-6 regulation in mitochondria is a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance the chemosensitivity of AML.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-23-0382
  5. Cell Death Discov. 2023 Sep 11. 9(1): 340
    Tumor suppressor p53 mediates interleukin-6 expression to enable cancer cell evasion of genotoxic stress.
    Trinh T T Phan, Nam V Truong, Wen-Guey Wu, Yi-Chun Su, Tzu-Sheng Hsu, Lih-Yuan Lin.
      The tumor suppressor p53 primarily functions as a mediator of DNA damage-induced cell death, thereby contributing to the efficacy of genotoxic anticancer therapeutics. Here, we show, on the contrary, that cancer cells can employ genotoxic stress-induced p53 to acquire treatment resistance through the production of the pleiotropic cytokine interleukin (IL)-6. Mechanistically, DNA damage, either repairable or irreparable, activates p53 and stimulates Caspase-2-mediated cleavage of its negative regulator mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) creating a positive feedback loop that leads to elevated p53 protein accumulation. p53 transcriptionally controls the major adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release channel pannexin 1 (Panx1), which directs IL-6 induction via a mechanism dependent on the extracellular ATP-activated purinergic P2 receptors as well as their downstream intracellular calcium (iCa2+)/PI3K/Akt/NF-ĸB signaling pathway. Thus, p53 silencing impairs Panx1 and IL-6 expression and renders cancer cells sensitive to genotoxic stress. Moreover, we confirm that IL-6 hampers the effectiveness of genotoxic anticancer agents by mitigating DNA damage, driving the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family genes, and maintaining the migratory and invasive properties of cancer cells. Analysis of patient survival and relevant factors in lung cancer and pan-cancer cohorts supports the prognostic and clinical values of Panx1 and IL-6. Notably, IL-6 secreted by cancer cells during genotoxic treatments promotes the polarization of monocytic THP-1-derived macrophages into an alternative (M2-like) phenotype that exhibits impaired anti-survival activities but enhanced pro-metastatic effects on cancer cells as compared to nonpolarized macrophages. Our study reveals the precise mechanism for genotoxic-induced IL-6 and suggests that targeting p53-mediated IL-6 may improve the responsiveness of cancer cells to genotoxic anticancer therapy.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-023-01638-0
  6. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2023 Sep 11. pii: a041540. [Epub ahead of print]
    The Role of Stroma in Cancer Metabolism.
    Alec C Kimmelman, Mara H Sherman.
      The altered metabolism of tumor cells is a well-known hallmark of cancer and is driven by multiple factors such as mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, the origin of the tissue where the tumor arises, and the microenvironment of the tumor. These metabolic changes support the growth of cancer cells by providing energy and the necessary building blocks to sustain proliferation. Targeting these metabolic alterations therapeutically is a potential strategy to treat cancer, but it is challenging due to the metabolic plasticity of tumors. Cancer cells have developed ways to scavenge nutrients through autophagy and macropinocytosis and can also form metabolic networks with stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment. Understanding the role of the tumor microenvironment in tumor metabolism is crucial for effective therapeutic targeting. This review will discuss tumor metabolism and the contribution of the stroma in supporting tumor growth through metabolic interactions.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a041540
  7. RNA Biol. 2023 01;20(1): 737-749
    Translational control of murine adiponectin expression by an upstream open reading frame element.
    Kommireddy Vasu, Iyappan Ramachandiran, Aayushi Chechi, Krishnendu Khan, Debjit Khan, Randall Kaufman, Paul L Fox.
      Adiponectin, an adipocyte-specific secretory protein encoded by the ADIPOQ gene has a causal role in insulin resistance. Anti-diabetic drugs increase plasma adiponectin by a poorly understood, post-transcriptional mechanism enhancing insulin sensitivity. Deletion analysis of a reporter bearing the mouse Adipoq mRNA 5'-leader identified an inhibitory cis-regulatory sequence. The 5'-leader harbours two potential upstream open reading frames (uORFs) overlapping the principal downstream ORF. Mutation of the uORF ATGs increased reporter translation ~3-fold, indicative of a functional uORF. uORFs are common in mammalian mRNAs; however, only a select group resist translational repression by the integrated stress response (ISR). Thapsigargin (TG), which induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the ISR, enhanced expression of a reporter bearing the Adipoq 5'-leader; polysome profiling verified translation-stimulation. TG-stimulated translation was absent in cells defective in Ser51 phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), required for the ISR. To determine its role in expression and function of endogenous adiponectin, the upstream uORF was disrupted by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of differentiated mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes. uORF disruption in adipocytes increased adiponectin expression, triacylglycerol accumulation, and glucose uptake, and inhibited paracrine muscle and liver cell expression of gluconeogenic enzymes, establishing an important role of the uORF in adiponectin-mediated responses to stress.
    Keywords:  Adipoq; CRISPR-Cas9; Upstream open reading frame; adipocyte; adiponectin; eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha; integrated stress response; translation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/15476286.2023.2256094
  8. Cell Chem Biol. 2023 Aug 31. pii: S2451-9456(23)00279-9. [Epub ahead of print]
    Screening in serum-derived medium reveals differential response to compounds targeting metabolism.
    Keene L Abbott, Ahmed Ali, Dominick Casalena, Brian T Do, Raphael Ferreira, Jaime H Cheah, Christian K Soule, Amy Deik, Tenzin Kunchok, Daniel R Schmidt, Steffen Renner, Sophie E Honeder, Michelle Wu, Sze Ham Chan, Tenzin Tseyang, Andrew T Stoltzfus, Sarah L J Michel, Daniel Greaves, Peggy P Hsu, Christopher W Ng, Chelsea J Zhang, Ali Farsidjani, Johnathan R Kent, Maria Lucia L Madariaga, Iva Monique T Gramatikov, Nicholas J Matheson, Caroline A Lewis, Clary B Clish, Matthew G Rees, Jennifer A Roth, Lesley Mathews Griner, Alexander Muir, Douglas S Auld, Matthew G Vander Heiden.
      A challenge for screening new anticancer drugs is that efficacy in cell culture models is not always predictive of efficacy in patients. One limitation of standard cell culture is a reliance on non-physiological nutrient levels, which can influence cell metabolism and drug sensitivity. A general assessment of how physiological nutrients affect cancer cell response to small molecule therapies is lacking. To address this, we developed a serum-derived culture medium that supports the proliferation of diverse cancer cell lines and is amenable to high-throughput screening. We screened several small molecule libraries and found that compounds targeting metabolic enzymes were differentially effective in standard compared to serum-derived medium. We exploited the differences in nutrient levels between each medium to understand why medium conditions affected the response of cells to some compounds, illustrating how this approach can be used to screen potential therapeutics and understand how their efficacy is modified by available nutrients.
    Keywords:  Cancer cell metabolism; Culture media; Drug sensitivity; High-throughput screening; Nutrient environment; Phenotypic drug screening; Physiologic media
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.08.007
  9. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2023 Aug 30. pii: S1359-6101(23)00056-4. [Epub ahead of print]
    Exosome-mediated metabolic reprogramming: Implications in esophageal carcinoma progression and tumor microenvironment remodeling.
    Yong Xi, Yaxing Shen, Lijie Chen, Lijie Tan, Weiyu Shen, Xing Niu.
      Esophageal carcinoma is among the most fatal malignancies with increasing incidence globally. Tumor onset and progression can be driven by metabolic reprogramming, especially during esophageal carcinoma development. Exosomes, a subset of extracellular vesicles, display an average size of ∼100 nanometers, containing multifarious components (nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, etc.). An increasing number of studies have shown that exosomes are capable of transferring molecules with biological functions into recipient cells, which play crucial roles in esophageal carcinoma progression and tumor microenvironment that is a highly heterogeneous ecosystem through rewriting the metabolic processes in tumor cells and environmental stromal cells. The review introduces the reprogramming of glucose, lipid, amino acid, mitochondrial metabolism in esophageal carcinoma, and summarize current pharmaceutical agents targeting such aberrant metabolism rewiring. We also comprehensively overview the biogenesis and release of exosomes, and recent advances of exosomal cargoes and functions in esophageal carcinoma and their promising clinical application. Moreover, we discuss how exosomes trigger tumor growth, metastasis, drug resistance, and immunosuppression as well as tumor microenvironment remodeling through focusing on their capacity to transfer materials between cells or between cells and tissues and modulate metabolic reprogramming, thus providing a theoretical reference for the design potential pharmaceutical agents targeting these mechanisms. Altogether, our review attempts to fully understand the significance of exosome-based metabolic rewriting in esophageal carcinoma progression and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, bringing novel insights into the prevention and treatment of esophageal carcinoma in the future.
    Keywords:  Esophageal carcinoma; Exosome; Lipid metabolism; Metabolic reprogramming; Tumor microenvironment; Tumor progression
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cytogfr.2023.08.010
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