scholarly journals ASS1 and ASL suppress growth in clear cell renal cell carcinoma via altered nitrogen metabolism

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanika Khare ◽  
Laura C. Kim ◽  
Graham Lobel ◽  
Paschalis-Thomas Doulias ◽  
Harry Ischiropoulos ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Kidney cancer is a common adult malignancy in the USA. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the predominant subtype of kidney cancer, is characterized by widespread metabolic changes. Urea metabolism is one such altered pathway in ccRCC. The aim of this study was to elucidate the contributions of urea cycle enzymes, argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1), and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) towards ccRCC progression. Methods We employed a combination of computational, genetic, and metabolomic tools along with in vivo animal models to establish a tumor-suppressive role for ASS1 and ASL in ccRCC. Results We show that the mRNA and protein expression of urea cycle enzymes ASS1 and ASL are reduced in ccRCC tumors when compared to the normal kidney. Furthermore, the loss of ASL in HK-2 cells (immortalized renal epithelial cells) promotes growth in 2D and 3D growth assays, while combined re-expression of ASS1 and ASL in ccRCC cell lines suppresses growth in 2D, 3D, and in vivo xenograft models. We establish that this suppression is dependent on their enzymatic activity. Finally, we demonstrate that conservation of cellular aspartate, regulation of nitric oxide synthesis, and pyrimidine production play pivotal roles in ASS1+ASL-mediated growth suppression in ccRCC. Conclusions ccRCC tumors downregulate the components of the urea cycle including the enzymes argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1) and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). These cytosolic enzymes lie at a critical metabolic hub in the cell and are involved in aspartate catabolism and arginine and nitric oxide biosynthesis. Loss of ASS1 and ASL helps cells redirect aspartate towards pyrimidine synthesis and support enhanced proliferation. Additionally, reduced levels of ASS1 and ASL might help regulate nitric oxide (NO) generation and mitigate its cytotoxic effects. Overall, our work adds to the understanding of urea cycle enzymes in a context-independent of ureagenesis, their role in ccRCC progression, and uncovers novel potential metabolic vulnerabilities in ccRCC.

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (S7) ◽  
pp. S766-S769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Lucarelli ◽  
Matteo Ferro ◽  
Pasquale Ditonno ◽  
Michele Battaglia

Author(s):  
Shenglin Gao ◽  
Lei Gao ◽  
Simin Wang ◽  
Xiaokai Shi ◽  
Chuang Yue ◽  
...  

BackgroundClear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most common malignant cancers in East Asia, with high incidence and mortality. Accumulating evidence has shown that ATF3 is associated with tumor progression.MethodsUsing qPCR, the expression of ATF3 was detected in 93 patients with ccRCC, including 24 paired normal and tumor tissues, which were used to further compare ATF3 expression through western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Lentivirus was used for the overexpression or knockdown of ATF3, and the consequent alteration in function was analyzed through CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, invasion assay, and flow cytometry. The potential mechanism affected by ATF3 was analyzed through gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and verified using western blotting, invasion assay, or immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, a xenograft mouse model was used to assess the function of ATF3 in vivo.ResultsATF3 expression was significantly decreased in ccRCC compared to that in adjacent normal tissues. Through gain- and loss-of-function experiments performed in an in vitro assay, we found that ATF3 could regulate ccRCC cell proliferation, cycle progression, migration, and invasion. In the in vivo study, the xenograft mouse model revealed that ATF3 overexpression can inhibit the growth of ccRCC. Moreover, the mechanism analysis showed that suppression of ATF3 could lead to an increase the expression of β-catenin and promote β-catenin transfer to the nucleus, and might be affected by EGFR/AKT/GSK3β signaling.ConclusionATF3 could be utilized as an independent protective factor to inhibit the progression of ccRCC. Potential treatment strategies for ccRCC include targeting the ATF3/EGFR/AKT/GSK3β/β−catenin signaling pathway.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Ju ◽  
Yangyang Sun ◽  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Xiaohui Wei ◽  
Zhenguo Wang ◽  
...  

With the rapid development of biotechnology, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have exhibited good application prospects in the treatment of cancer, and they may become new treatment targets for cancer. This study aimed to explore lncRNAs in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Differentially expressed lncRNAs in 54 pairs of ccRCC tissues and para-carcinoma tissues were analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and the most significant lncRNAs were selected and verified in ccRCC tissues. We found that lncRNA LINC02747 was highly expressed in ccRCC (P < 0.001) and was closely related to high TNM stage (P = 0.006) and histological grade (P = 0.004) and poor prognosis of patients (P < 0.001). In vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that LINC02747 could promote the proliferation of ccRCC cells. We also found that LINC02747 regulated the proliferation of RCC cells by adsorbing miR-608. Subsequent mechanistic research showed that miR-608 is downregulated in ccRCC (P < 0.001), and overexpression of miR-608 inbibited the proliferation of RCC cells. Moreover, we found that TFE3 is a direct target gene of miR-608. MiR-608 regulated the proliferation of RCC cells by inhibiting TFE3. In conclusion, LINC02747 upregulates the expression of TFE3 by adsorbing miR-608, ultimately promoting the proliferation of ccRCC cells. The above findings indicate that LINC02747 acts as an oncogene in ccRCC and may be developed as a molecular marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of ccRCC. The LINC02747/miR-608/TFE3 pathway may become a new therapeutic target for ccRCC.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 2740
Author(s):  
Virginia Albiñana ◽  
Eunate Gallardo-Vara ◽  
Isabel de Rojas-P ◽  
Lucia Recio-Poveda ◽  
Tania Aguado ◽  
...  

Von Hippel–Lindau (VHL), is a rare autosomal dominant inherited cancer in which the lack of VHL protein triggers the development of multisystemic tumors such us retinal hemangioblastomas (HB), CNS-HB, and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). ccRCC ranks third in terms of incidence and first in cause of death. Standard systemic therapies for VHL-ccRCC have shown limited response, with recurrent surgeries being the only effective treatment. Targeting of β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB) has shown therapeutic antitumor benefits on VHL-retinal HB (clinical trial) and VHL-CNS HB (in vitro). Therefore, the in vitro and in vivo antitumor benefits of propranolol (ADRB-1,2 antagonist) and ICI-118,551 (ADRB-2 antagonist) on VHL−/− ccRCC primary cultures and 786-O tumor cell lines have been addressed. Propranolol and ICI-118,551 activated apoptosis inhibited gene and protein expression of HIF-2α, CAIX, and VEGF, and impaired partially the nuclear internalization of HIF-2α and NFĸB/p65. Moreover, propranolol and ICI-118,551 reduced tumor growth on two in vivo xenografts. Finally, ccRCC patients receiving propranolol as off-label treatment have shown a positive therapeutic response for two years on average. In summary, propranolol and ICI-118,551 have shown antitumor benefits in VHL-derived ccRCC, and since ccRCCs comprise 63% of the total RCCs, targeting ADRB2 becomes a promising drug for VHL and other non-VHL tumors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuo Ye ◽  
Jiachen Duan ◽  
Lihui Wang ◽  
Yanli Ji ◽  
Baoping Qiao

Abstract Background Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common renal cell carcinoma subtype with a poor prognosis. LncRNA-LET is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that is down-regulated in ccRCC tissues. However, its role in ccRCC development and progress is unclear. Methods LncRNA-LET expression was detected in ccRCC tissues and ccRCC cells using quantitative real-time PCR. The overexpression and knockdown experiments were performed in ccRCC cells and xenograft mouse model to evaluate role of lncRNA-LET. Cell cycle, apoptosis and JC-1 assays were conducted via flow cytometer. The protein levels were measured through western blot analysis and the interaction between lncRNA-LET and miR-373-3p was identified via luciferase reporter assay. Results LncRNA-LET expression was lower in ccRCC tissues than that in the matched adjacent non-tumor tissues (n = 16). In vitro, lncRNA-LET overexpression induced cell cycle arrest, promoted apoptosis and impaired mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas its knockdown exerted opposite effects. Moreover, we noted that lncRNA-LET may act as a target for oncomiR miR-373-3p. In contrast to lncRNA-LET, miR-373-3p expression was higher in ccRCC tissues. The binding between lncRNA-LET and miR-373-3p was validated. Two downstream targets of miR-373-3p, Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP2), were positively regulated by lncRNA-LET in ccRCC cells. MiR-373-3p mimics reduced lncRNA-LET-induced up-regulation of DKK1 and TIMP2 levels, and attenuated lncRNA-LET-mediated anti-tumor effects in ccRCC cells. In vivo, lncRNA-LET suppressed the growth of ccRCC xenograft tumors. Conclusion These findings indicate that lncRNA-LET plays a tumor suppressive role in ccRCC by regulating miR-373-3p.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e778-e778c
Author(s):  
J.H.M. Berkers ◽  
C. Vandenbriele ◽  
O. Govaere ◽  
B. Beuselinck ◽  
R. Conotte ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Yang ◽  
Qiao Zhang ◽  
Yueli Ni ◽  
Qiaoqiao Han ◽  
Shujie Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a cell metabolic disease with high metastasis rate and poor prognosis. Our previous studies demonstrate that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway, is highly expressed in ccRCC and predicts poor outcomes of ccRCC patients. The aims of this study were to confirm the oncogenic role of G6PD in ccRCC and unravels novel mechanisms involving Cyclin E1 and MMP9 in G6PD-mediated ccRCC progression. Methods: Real-time RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the expression patterns of G6PD, Cyclin E1 and MMP9 in ccRCC. TCGA dataset mining was used to identify Cyclin E1 and MMP9 correlations with G6PD expression, relationships between clinicopathological characteristics of ccRCC and the genes of interest, as well as the prognosis of ccRCC patients. The role of G6PD in ccRCC progression and the regulatory effect of G6PD on Cyclin E1 and MMP9 expression were investigated by using a series of cytological function assays in vitro. To verify this mechanism in vivo, xenografted mice models were established. Results: G6PD, Cyclin E1 and MMP9 were overexpressed and positively correlated in ccRCC, and they were associated with poor prognosis of ccRCC patients. Moreover, G6PD changed cell cycle dynamics, facilitated cells proliferation, promoted migration in vitro, and enhanced ccRCC development in vivo, more likely through enhancing Cyclin E1 and MMP9 expression. Conclusion: These findings present G6PD, Cyclin E1 and MMP9, which contribute to ccRCC progression, as novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for ccRCC treatment.


Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 361 (6399) ◽  
pp. 290-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Tao Wu ◽  
Jeremy Simon ◽  
Mamoru Takada ◽  
Ryoichi Saito ◽  
...  

Inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ubiquitin ligase protein is a hallmark of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Identifying how pathways affected by VHL loss contribute to ccRCC remains challenging. We used a genome-wide in vitro expression strategy to identify proteins that bind VHL when hydroxylated. Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) was found as a VHL target, and its hydroxylation allowed VHL to regulate its protein stability. Tumor cells from ccRCC patients with VHL loss-of-function mutations usually had increased abundance and nuclear localization of ZHX2. Functionally, depletion of ZHX2 inhibited VHL-deficient ccRCC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, integrated chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and microarray analysis showed that ZHX2 promoted nuclear factor κB activation. These studies reveal ZHX2 as a potential therapeutic target for ccRCC.


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