scholarly journals The Mitochondrial Protein VDAC1 at the Crossroads of Cancer Cell Metabolism: The Epigenetic Link

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zohar Amsalem ◽  
Tasleem Arif ◽  
Anna Shteinfer-Kuzmine ◽  
Vered Chalifa-Caspi ◽  
Varda Shoshan-Barmatz
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Dna Microarrays ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Residual Tumor ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cancer Hallmarks ◽  
Acetylation State ◽  
Cancer Cell Metabolism

Carcinogenesis is a complicated process that involves the deregulation of epigenetics, resulting in cellular transformational events, such as proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis. Most chromatin-modifying enzymes utilize metabolites as co-factors or substrates and thus are directly dependent on such metabolites as acetyl-coenzyme A, S-adenosylmethionine, and NAD+. Here, we show that using specific siRNA to deplete a tumor of VDAC1 not only led to reprograming of the cancer cell metabolism but also altered several epigenetic-related enzymes and factors. VDAC1, in the outer mitochondrial membrane, controls metabolic cross-talk between the mitochondria and the rest of the cell, thus regulating the metabolic and energetic functions of mitochondria, and has been implicated in apoptotic-relevant events. We previously demonstrated that silencing VDAC1 expression in glioblastoma (GBM) U-87MG cell-derived tumors, resulted in reprogramed metabolism leading to inhibited tumor growth, angiogenesis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition and invasiveness, and elimination of cancer stem cells, while promoting the differentiation of residual tumor cells into neuronal-like cells. These VDAC1 depletion-mediated effects involved alterations in transcription factors regulating signaling pathways associated with cancer hallmarks. As the epigenome is sensitive to cellular metabolism, this study was designed to assess whether depleting VDAC1 affects the metabolism–epigenetics axis. Using DNA microarrays, q-PCR, and specific antibodies, we analyzed the effects of si-VDAC1 treatment of U-87MG-derived tumors on histone modifications and epigenetic-related enzyme expression levels, as well as the methylation and acetylation state, to uncover any alterations in epigenetic properties. Our results demonstrate that metabolic rewiring of GBM via VDAC1 depletion affects epigenetic modifications, and strongly support the presence of an interplay between metabolism and epigenetics.

scholarly journals Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Contributes to Drug Resistance of Lung Cancer Cells Through Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Buse Cevatemre ◽  
Engin Ulukaya ◽  
Egemen Dere ◽  
Sukru Dilege ◽  
Ayhan Ceyda Acilan
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cancer Cell Metabolism ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Recently, there has been a growing interest on the role of mitochondria in metastatic cascade. Several reports have shown the preferential utilization of glycolytic pathway instead of mitochondrial respiration for energy production and the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) has been considered to be a contributor to this switch in some cancers. Since epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is proposed to be one of the significant mediators of metastasis, the molecular connections between cancer cell metabolism and EMT may reveal underlying mechanisms and improve our understanding on metastasis. In order to explore a potential role for PDH inhibition on EMT and associated drug resistance, we took both pharmacological and genetic approaches, and selectively inhibited or knocked down PDHA1 by using Cpi613 and shPDHA1, respectively. We found that both approaches triggered morphological changes and characteristics of EMT (increase in mesenchymal markers). This change was accompanied by enhanced wound healing and an increase in migration. Interestingly, cells were more resistant to many of the clinically used chemotherapeutics following PDH inhibition or PDHA1 knockdown. Furthermore, the TGFβRI (known as a major inducer of the EMT) inhibitor (SB-431542) together with the PDHi, was effective in reversing EMT. In conclusion, interfering with PDH induced EMT, and more importantly resulted in chemoresistance. Therefore, our study demonstrates the need for careful consideration of PDH-targeting approaches in cancer treatment.

scholarly journals Hypoxia-Induced Cancer Cell Responses Driving Radioresistance of Hypoxic Tumors: Approaches to Targeting and Radiosensitizing

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1102
Author(s):  
Alexander E. Kabakov ◽  
Anna O. Yakimova
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Liver Tumors ◽  
Oxygen Deficiency ◽  
Transarterial Embolization ◽  
Antiangiogenic Therapy ◽  
Adaptation To Hypoxia ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

Within aggressive malignancies, there usually are the “hypoxic zones”—poorly vascularized regions where tumor cells undergo oxygen deficiency through inadequate blood supply. Besides, hypoxia may arise in tumors as a result of antiangiogenic therapy or transarterial embolization. Adapting to hypoxia, tumor cells acquire a hypoxia-resistant phenotype with the characteristic alterations in signaling, gene expression and metabolism. Both the lack of oxygen by itself and the hypoxia-responsive phenotypic modulations render tumor cells more radioresistant, so that hypoxic tumors are a serious challenge for radiotherapy. An understanding of causes of the radioresistance of hypoxic tumors would help to develop novel ways for overcoming this challenge. Molecular targets for and various approaches to radiosensitizing hypoxic tumors are considered in the present review. It is here analyzed how the hypoxia-induced cellular responses involving hypoxia-inducible factor-1, heat shock transcription factor 1, heat shock proteins, glucose-regulated proteins, epigenetic regulators, autophagy, energy metabolism reprogramming, epithelial–mesenchymal transition and exosome generation contribute to the radioresistance of hypoxic tumors or may be inhibited for attenuating this radioresistance. The pretreatments with a multitarget inhibition of the cancer cell adaptation to hypoxia seem to be a promising approach to sensitizing hypoxic carcinomas, gliomas, lymphomas, sarcomas to radiotherapy and, also, liver tumors to radioembolization.

scholarly journals A Holistic Evolutionary and 3D Pharmacophore Modelling Study Provides Insights into the Metabolism, Function, and Substrate Selectivity of the Human Monocarboxylate Transporter 4 (hMCT4)

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 2918
Author(s):  
Eleni Papakonstantinou ◽  
Dimitrios Vlachakis ◽  
Trias Thireou ◽  
Panayiotis G. Vlachoyiannopoulos ◽  
Elias Eliopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Intracellular Localization ◽  
Selective Inhibition ◽  
Monocarboxylate Transporter ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Pharmacophore Modelling ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cell Metabolism

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) are of great research interest for their role in cancer cell metabolism and their potential ability to transport pharmacologically relevant compounds across the membrane. Each member of the MCT family could potentially provide novel therapeutic approaches to various diseases. The major differences among MCTs are related to each of their specific metabolic roles, their relative substrate and inhibitor affinities, the regulation of their expression, their intracellular localization, and their tissue distribution. MCT4 is the main mediator for the efflux of L-lactate produced in the cell. Thus, MCT4 maintains the glycolytic phenotype of the cancer cell by supplying the molecular resources for tumor cell proliferation and promotes the acidification of the extracellular microenvironment from the co-transport of protons. A promising therapeutic strategy in anti-cancer drug design is the selective inhibition of MCT4 for the glycolytic suppression of solid tumors. A small number of studies indicate molecules for dual inhibition of MCT1 and MCT4; however, no selective inhibitor with high-affinity for MCT4 has been identified. In this study, we attempt to approach the structural characteristics of MCT4 through an in silico pipeline for molecular modelling and pharmacophore elucidation towards the identification of specific inhibitors as a novel anti-cancer strategy.

scholarly journals Oncolytic Virotherapy: The Cancer Cell Side

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 939
Author(s):  
Marcelo Ehrlich ◽  
Eran Bacharach
Keyword(s):  
Viral Replication ◽  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Oncolytic Viruses ◽  
Oncogenic Signaling ◽  
Functional Connection ◽  
Immunity Genes ◽  
Cancer Cell Metabolism ◽  
Editing Process

Cell autonomous immunity genes mediate the multiple stages of anti-viral defenses, including recognition of invading pathogens, inhibition of viral replication, reprogramming of cellular metabolism, programmed-cell-death, paracrine induction of antiviral state, and activation of immunostimulatory inflammation. In tumor development and/or immunotherapy settings, selective pressure applied by the immune system results in tumor immunoediting, a reduction in the immunostimulatory potential of the cancer cell. This editing process comprises the reduced expression and/or function of cell autonomous immunity genes, allowing for immune-evasion of the tumor while concomitantly attenuating anti-viral defenses. Combined with the oncogene-enhanced anabolic nature of cancer-cell metabolism, this attenuation of antiviral defenses contributes to viral replication and to the selectivity of oncolytic viruses (OVs) towards malignant cells. Here, we review the manners by which oncogene-mediated transformation and tumor immunoediting combine to alter the intracellular milieu of tumor cells, for the benefit of OV replication. We also explore the functional connection between oncogenic signaling and epigenetic silencing, and the way by which restriction of such silencing results in immune activation. Together, the picture that emerges is one in which OVs and epigenetic modifiers are part of a growing therapeutic toolbox that employs activation of anti-tumor immunity for cancer therapy.

scholarly journals MiR-205 Dysregulations in Breast Cancer: The Complexity and Opportunities

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao ◽  
Humphries ◽  
Yang ◽  
Wang
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Therapy Resistance ◽  
Cancer Cell Proliferation ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding small RNAs that downregulate target gene expression by imperfect base-pairing with the 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs) of target gene mRNAs. MiRNAs play important roles in regulating cancer cell proliferation, stemness maintenance, tumorigenesis, cancer metastasis, and cancer therapeutic resistance. While studies have shown that dysregulation of miRNA-205-5p (miR-205) expression is controversial in different types of human cancers, it is generally observed that miR-205-5p expression level is downregulated in breast cancer and that miR-205-5p exhibits a tumor suppressive function in breast cancer. This review focuses on the role of miR-205-5p dysregulation in different subtypes of breast cancer, with discussions on the effects of miR-205-5p on breast cancer cell proliferation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis, stemness and therapy-resistance, as well as genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that regulate miR-205-5p expression in breast cancer. In addition, the potential diagnostic and therapeutic value of miR-205-5p in breast cancer is also discussed. A comprehensive list of validated miR-205-5p direct targets is presented. It is concluded that miR-205-5p is an important tumor suppressive miRNA capable of inhibiting the growth and metastasis of human breast cancer, especially triple negative breast cancer. MiR-205-5p might be both a potential diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for metastatic breast cancer.

scholarly journals Exo70 Isoform Switching upon Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Mediates Cancer Cell Invasion

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 560-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hezhe Lu ◽  
Jianglan Liu ◽  
Shujing Liu ◽  
Jingwen Zeng ◽  
Deqiang Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Cell Invasion ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cancer Cell Invasion ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Isoform Switching

AVB-500, a selective inhibitor of GAS6-AXL, in combination with paclitaxel alters uterine serous cancer cell metabolism

2021 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. S97
Author(s):  
Shaina Bruce ◽  
Kevin Cho ◽  
Elena Lomonosova ◽  
Hollie Noia ◽  
Elizabeth Stock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Selective Inhibitor ◽  
Cancer Cell Metabolism
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