scholarly journals PCK1 and DHODH drive colorectal cancer liver metastatic colonization and nucleotide biosynthesis under hypoxia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norihiro Yamaguchi ◽  
Ethan M Weinberg ◽  
Alexander Nguyen ◽  
Maria V Liberti ◽  
Hani Goodarzi ◽  
...  

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of human death. Mortality is primarily due to metastatic organ colonization, with liver being the primary organ affected. We modeled metastatic CRC (mCRC) liver colonization using patient-derived primary and metastatic tumor xenografts (PDX). Such PDX modeling predicted patient survival outcomes. In vivo selection of multiple PDXs for enhanced metastatic capacity upregulated the gluconeogenic enzyme PCK1, which enhanced metastatic hypoxic survival by driving anabolic pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis. Consistently, highly metastatic tumors upregulated multiple pyrimidine biosynthesis intermediary metabolites. Therapeutic inhibition of the pyrimidine biosynthetic enzyme DHODH with oral leflunomide substantially impaired CRC liver metastatic colonization and hypoxic survival. Our findings provide a potential mechanistic basis for the epidemiologic association of anti-gluconeogenic drugs with improved CRC metastasis outcomes, reveal the exploitation of a gluconeogenesis enzyme for pyrimidine biosynthesis during hypoxia, and implicate DHODH and PCK1 as metabolic therapeutic targets in colorectal cancer metastasis.

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norihiro Yamaguchi ◽  
Ethan M Weinberg ◽  
Alexander Nguyen ◽  
Maria V Liberti ◽  
Hani Goodarzi ◽  
...  

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of human death. Mortality is primarily due to metastatic organ colonization, with the liver being the main organ affected. We modeled metastatic CRC (mCRC) liver colonization using patient-derived primary and metastatic tumor xenografts (PDX). Such PDX modeling predicted patient survival outcomes. In vivo selection of multiple PDXs for enhanced metastatic colonization capacity upregulated the gluconeogenic enzyme PCK1, which enhanced liver metastatic growth by driving pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis under hypoxia. Consistently, highly metastatic tumors upregulated multiple pyrimidine biosynthesis intermediary metabolites. Therapeutic inhibition of the pyrimidine biosynthetic enzyme DHODH with leflunomide substantially impaired CRC liver metastatic colonization and hypoxic growth. Our findings provide a potential mechanistic basis for the epidemiologic association of anti-gluconeogenic drugs with improved CRC metastasis outcomes, reveal the exploitation of a gluconeogenesis enzyme for pyrimidine biosynthesis under hypoxia, and implicate DHODH and PCK1 as metabolic therapeutic targets in CRC metastatic progression.


Blood ◽  
1962 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 593-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
MYRON LOTZ ◽  
LLOYD H. SMITH

Abstract Five sequential enzymes leading to the formation of uridine-5'-phosphate were studied in acetophenylhydrazine-induced reticulocytes in the rabbit. All of these enzymes—aspartate carbamyltransferase, dihydroorotase, dihydroorotic dehydrogenase, orotidylic pyrophosphorylase, and orotidylic decarboxylase—decreased markedly in activity during in vivo maturation and aging of the reticulocytes. In analogy to previous studies on purine nucleotide biosynthesis, it is concluded that the reticulocyte, but not the mature erythrocyte, is capable of de novo pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis.


Oncogene ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senlin Zhao ◽  
Bingjie Guan ◽  
Yushuai Mi ◽  
Debing Shi ◽  
Ping Wei ◽  
...  

AbstractGlycolysis plays a crucial role in reprogramming the metastatic tumor microenvironment. A series of lncRNAs have been identified to function as oncogenic molecules by regulating glycolysis. However, the roles of glycolysis-related lncRNAs in regulating colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) remain poorly understood. In the present study, the expression of the glycolysis-related lncRNA MIR17HG gradually increased from adjacent normal to CRC to the paired liver metastatic tissues, and high MIR17HG expression predicted poor survival, especially in patients with liver metastasis. Functionally, MIR17HG promoted glycolysis in CRC cells and enhanced their invasion and liver metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MIR17HG functioned as a ceRNA to regulate HK1 expression by sponging miR-138-5p, resulting in glycolysis in CRC cells and leading to their invasion and liver metastasis. More interestingly, lactate accumulated via glycolysis activated the p38/Elk-1 signaling pathway to promote the transcriptional expression of MIR17HG in CRC cells, forming a positive feedback loop, which eventually resulted in persistent glycolysis and the invasion and liver metastasis of CRC cells. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the lactate-responsive lncRNA MIR17HG, acting as a ceRNA, promotes CRLM through a glycolysis-mediated positive feedback circuit and might be a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for CRLM.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazim Husain ◽  
Domenico Coppola ◽  
Chung S. Yang ◽  
Mokenge P. Malafa

AbstractThe activation and growth of tumour-initiating cells with stem-like properties in distant organs characterize colorectal cancer (CRC) growth and metastasis. Thus, inhibition of colon cancer stem cell (CCSC) growth holds promise for CRC growth and metastasis prevention. We and others have shown that farnesyl dimethyl chromanol (FDMC) inhibits cancer cell growth and induces apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. We provide the first demonstration that FDMC inhibits CCSC viability, survival, self-renewal (spheroid formation), pluripotent transcription factors (Nanog, Oct4, and Sox2) expression, organoids formation, and Wnt/β-catenin signalling, as evidenced by comparisons with vehicle-treated controls. In addition, FDMC inhibits CCSC migration, invasion, inflammation (NF-kB), angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF), and metastasis (MMP9), which are critical tumour metastasis processes. Moreover, FDMC induced apoptosis (TUNEL, Annexin V, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved PARP) in CCSCs and CCSC-derived spheroids and organoids. Finally, in an orthotopic (cecum-injected CCSCs) xenograft metastasis model, we show that FDMC significantly retards CCSC-derived tumour growth (Ki-67); inhibits inflammation (NF-kB), angiogenesis (VEGF and CD31), and β-catenin signalling; and induces apoptosis (cleaved PARP) in tumour tissues and inhibits liver metastasis. In summary, our results demonstrate that FDMC inhibits the CCSC metastatic phenotype and thereby supports investigating its ability to prevent CRC metastases.


Author(s):  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Yan Li ◽  
Ping Hu ◽  
Yuan-Sheng Ding

Previous study indicates that long noncoding RNA NORAD could serve as a competing endogenous RNA to pancreatic cancer metastasis. However, its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) needs to be investigated. In the present study, we found that the expression of NORAD was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues. Furthermore, the expression of NORAD was positively related with CRC metastasis and patients’ poor prognosis. Knockdown of NORAD markedly inhibited CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion but induced cell apoptosis in vitro. In vivo experiments also indicated an inhibitory effect of NORAD on tumor growth. Mechanistically, we found that NORAD served as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-202-5p. We found that there was an inverse relationship between the expression of NORAD and miR-202-5p in CRC tissues. Moreover, overexpression of miR-202-5p in SW480 and HCT116 cells significantly inhibited cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion. Taken together, our study demonstrated that the NORAD/miR-202-5p axis plays a pivotal function on CRC progression.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 758
Author(s):  
Dan Luo ◽  
Wei Ge

Background: Recurrence and distant organ metastasis is a major cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating this phenomenon are poorly understood. MeCP2 is a key epigenetic regulator and is amplified in many types of cancer. Its role in CRC and the molecular mechanisms underlying its action remain unknown. Methods: We used western blot and immunohistochemistry to detect MeCP2 expression in CRC tissues, and then investigated its biological functions in vitro and in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, co-immunoprecipitation, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were used to detect the associations among MeCP2 (Methyl-CpG binding protein 2), SPI1 (Spi-1 Proto-Oncogene), and ZEB1 (Zinc Finger E-Box Binding Homeobox 1). Results: Using the Cancer Genome Atlas and Oncomine databases, we found MeCP2 expression was upregulated in CRC tissues and this upregulation was related to poor prognosis. Meanwhile, MeCP2 depletion (KO/KD) in CRC cells significantly inhibited stem cell frequency, and invasion and migration ability in vitro, and suppressed CRC metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, we show MeCP2 binds to the transcription factor SPI1, and aids its recruitment to the ZEB1 promoter. SPI1 then facilitates ZEB1 expression at the transcription level. In turn, ZEB1 induces the expression of MMP14, CD133, and SOX2, thereby maintaining CRC stemness and metastasis. Conclusions: MeCP2 is a novel regulator of CRC metastasis. MeCP2 suppression may be a promising therapeutic strategy in CRC.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Debunne ◽  
Evelien Wynendaele ◽  
Yorick Janssens ◽  
Anton De Spiegeleer ◽  
Frederick Verbeke ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackgroundColorectal cancer, one of the most common malignancies worldwide, is associated with a high mortality rate, mainly caused by metastasis. Comparative metagenome-wide analyses between healthy individuals and cancer patients suggest a role for the human intestinal microbiota. Nevertheless, which microbial molecules are involved in this communication is largely unknown, with current studies mainly focusing on short chain fatty acids and amino acid metabolites as potential mediators. However, quorum sensing peptides are not yet considered in this microbiome-host interaction: their in vivo presence nor any in vivo host-effect have been reported.ResultsFor the first time, we showed that a quorum sensing peptide metabolite, EntF* produced by intestinal microbiota (E. faecium), is present in the blood circulation of mice. Moreover, it significantly promotes colorectal cancer metastasis in vivo, with metastatic lesions found in both liver and lung tissues, using an orthotopic mice model evaluating bioluminescence as well as macroscopic and microscopic presence of metastatic tumour nodules. In vitro tests on E-cadherin expression levels thereby indicated that the first, second, sixth and tenth amino acid of EntF* were critical for the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) effect, responsible for tumour metastasis.ConclusionThis paper adds a new group of molecules, the quorum sensing peptides, as an additional causative factor explaining the microbiome-host interaction. The presence of a selected quorum sensing peptide (metabolite) in the mouse was proven for the first time and its in vivo effect on colorectal metastasis was demonstrated. We anticipate our in vivo results to be a starting point for broader microbiome-health investigations, not only limited to colorectal cancer metastasis, but also for developing novel bio-therapeutics in other disease areas, giving due attention to the QSP produced by the microbiome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinbing Sun ◽  
Zhihua Lu ◽  
Wei Fu ◽  
Kuangyi Lu ◽  
Xiuwen Gu ◽  
...  

Exosomes derived from cancer cells are deemed important drivers of pre-metastatic niche formation at distant organs, but the underlying mechanisms of their effects remain largely unknow. Although the role of ADAM17 in cancer cells has been well studied, the secreted ADAM17 effects transported via exosomes are less understood. Herein, we show that the level of exosome-derived ADAM17 is elevated in the serum of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer as well as in metastatic colorectal cancer cells. Furthermore, exosomal ADAM17 was shown to promote the migratory ability of colorectal cancer cells by cleaving the E-cadherin junction. Moreover, exosomal ADAM17 overexpression as well as RNA interference results highlighted its function as a tumor metastasis-promoting factor in colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our current work suggests that exosomal ADAM17 is involved in pre-metastatic niche formation and may be utilized as a blood-based biomarker of colorectal cancer metastasis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Tu ◽  
Jin Gong ◽  
Zhenzhen Zhou ◽  
Dean Tian ◽  
Zhijun Wang

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis is a significant clinical problem for which better therapies are urgently needed. Tumor-associated macrophage, a major cell population in the tumor microenvironment, is a known contributor to primary cancer progression and cancer metastasis. Here, we found TAM recruitment and M2 polarization were increased in the hepatic metastatic lesion compared with the primary site of human CRC tissues. Moreover, Pearson correlation analysis showed that TAM recruitment and polarization were closely correlated with the elevated TCF4 expression in the metastatic site. To investigate the role of TCF4 in CRC liver metastasis, we generated a syngeneic mouse model using MC38 cells splenic injection. Results from in vivo experiments and mouse models revealed that TCF4 deficiency in MC38 cells does not affect their proliferation and invasion; however, it reduces TAM infiltration and M2 polarization in the metastasis site. Further studies indicated that these effects are mediated by the TCF4 regulated CCL2 and CCR2 expression. TCF4 or CCL2 silencing in the tumor cells prevent CRC liver metastasis in the mouse model. Altogether, these findings suggest that the TCF4-CCL2-CCR2 axis plays an essential role in CRC liver metastasis by enhancing TAMs recruitment and M2 polarization.


2019 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 578-589
Author(s):  
Liang Wu ◽  
Zili Zhou ◽  
Shengbo Han ◽  
Jinhuang Chen ◽  
Zhengyi Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We previously demonstrated that the pleomorphic adenoma gene like-2 (PLAGL2) is involved in the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung disease. Enhanced PLAGL2 expression was observed in several malignant tumours. However, the exact function of PLAGL2 and its underlying mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely unknown. Methods Immunohistochemical analysis of PLAGL2 was performed. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to reveal the role of PLAGL2 in the progression of CRC. Results Enhanced PLAGL2 expression was significantly associated with EMT-related proteins in CRC. The data revealed that PLAGL2 promotes CRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, PLAGL2 promoted the expression of ZEB1. PLAGL2 enhanced the expression and nuclear translocation of β-catenin by decreasing its phosphorylation. The depletion of β-catenin neutralised the regulation of ZEB1 that was caused by enhanced PLAGL2 expression. The small-molecule inhibitor PNU-74654, also impaired the enhancement of ZEB1 that resulted from the modified PLAGL2 expression. The depletion of ZEB1 could block the biological function of PLAGL2 in CRC cells. Conclusions Collectively, our findings suggest that PLAGL2 mediates EMT to promote colorectal cancer metastasis via β-catenin-dependent regulation of ZEB1.


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