Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Reductase 1: A Novel Target for Sensitizing Myeloma to Cytotoxic Agents By Inhibition of PRAS40-Mediated Protein Synthesis

Introduction Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable cancer despite advances in therapy. Therefore, the search for new targets is still essential to uncover potential treatment strategies. Metabolic changes, induced by the hypoxic bone marrow, contribute to both cancer cell survival and drug resistance. In this study, we aimed to identify which metabolic changes and downstream pathways are involved in myeloma cell growth and persistence. Methods Correlation of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 and 2 (PYCR1 and PYCR2) with overall survival was investigated in the gene-expression data of MM patients (MMRF CoMMpass trial). To perform a tracer study, RPMI-8226 cells were supplemented with 13C-glutamine for 48h in both normoxia and hypoxia (<1% O 2, by chamber). For further in vitro investigation, 2 human MM cell lines (OPM-2 and RPMI-8226) were used. Proline concentrations in cell lysates were measured by ELISA-based proline assay kit. We used siRNA to establish a knockdown of PYCR1 and/or PYCR2. Levels of apoptosis were measured using AnnexinV and 7-AAD positivity on flow cytometry. Differential protein expression was evaluated with western blot. Proliferation was measured by assessing BrdU incorporation through flow cytometry. Pargyline was used as a PYCR1 inhibitor. All in vitro experiments were performed in hypoxic conditions. For the in vivo murine experiment, C57BL/KalwRij mice were inoculated with 1 million of eGFP+ 5TGM1 cells, and treated with vehicle, bortezomib (0.6 mpk, 2x/week, starting day 14), pargyline (100 mpk, 5x/week, starting day 1) or combination of both. Tumor burden was measured by flow cytometry when vehicle mice reached end-stage. Results Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 and 2 (PYCR1 and PYCR2) are 2 mitochondrial enzymes that facilitate the last step in the enzymatic conversion of glutamine to proline. High expression of both enzymes correlated with a lower overall survival in the CoMMpass trial. Moreover, MM cells from relapse/refractory patients expressed significant higher levels of PYCR1. We performed a tracer study with RPMI-8226 cells, revealing an increased conversion of 13C-glutamine to proline in hypoxia compared to normoxia. We confirmed these results by increased proline production after 48h of hypoxic culture. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of PYCR1 or both PYCR1/2 combined with bortezomib increased apoptotic cell death in OPM-2 and RPMI-8226, which we confirmed by detecting upregulation of cleaved PARP and cleaved CASPASE 3 levels. In contrast, PYCR2 knockdown combined with bortezomib did not significantly alter apoptosis. Further investigation revealed that PYCR1 knockdown reduced proliferation, and led to a decrease in p-AKT, p-p42/44 MAPK and c-MYC levels. Mechanistically, we found that PYCR1 silencing affected protein synthesis, as shown by a downregulation of p-PRAS40, p-MTOR, p-p70, p-S6, p-4EBP1 and p-EIF4e levels. Next, we evaluated whether the clinically relevant anti-hypertensive agent and PYCR1 inhibitor, pargyline, was capable of inducing myeloma cell death. In vitro, pargyline reduced proline production, MM viability and increased apoptotic cell death. Pargyline was also capable of reducing viability in CD138+ cells of primary patient samples . Finally, in vivo combination of pargyline with bortezomib significantly reduced tumor burden in the 5TGM1 model. On protein level, we also observed a significant decrease in p-4EBP1 and p-EIF4e in the freshly isolated 5TGM1 cells for the combination therapy. Conclusion Hypoxia increased glutamine-to-proline conversion in myeloma cells by stimulating PYCR activity. Knockdown of PYCR1 and PYCR1/2 increased bortezomib efficacy and inhibited proliferation. Mechanistically, PYCR1 interference reduced PRAS40-mediated protein synthesis. Pargyline, a PYCR1 inhibitor, also reduced MM viability and increased apoptosis. In vivo, pargyline combined with bortezomib significantly reduced tumor burden in the 5TGM1 model compared to both single agents. In conclusion, this study identifies PYCR1 as a novel target in MM therapy. Disclosures De Veirman: Active Biotech AB: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Pargyline is a antihypertensive agent and irreversible MAO B inhibitor that also inhibits PYCR1. Pargyline is not approved by the FDA as a PYCR1 inhibitor.

Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Reductase-2 Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression via Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway

Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and underlying pathway of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase-2 (PYCR2) on colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to analyze PYCR2 expression levels and clinical information. Cell proliferation was evaluated using colony forming and EdU assay. Cell apoptosis rate was determined using flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were measured by performing a Transwell assay, and PYCR2, MMP-2, MMP-9, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, cleaved PARP, p-PI3K, PI3K, p-AKT, AKT, p-mTOR, and mTOR protein levels were detected by Western blot. Results. A review of the TCGA database revealed that PYCR2 was highly expressed in CRC patients and that high PYCR2 expression was associated with advanced stage, adenocarcinoma, nodal metastasis, and poor survival rate. Moreover, PYCR2 knockdown reduced cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion and increased apoptosis. Additionally, PYCR2 knockdown increased Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved PARP levels and decreased Bcl-2, MMP-2, MMP-9, p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR levels in CRC cells. Effects of silencing PYCR2 on proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in CRC cells were all reversed using a PI3K activator (740Y-P). Conclusion. PYCR2 was highly expressed in CRC, and its knockdown suppressed CRC tumorigenesis via inhibiting the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. This finding provides a new theoretical foundation for the treatment of CRC.

Appropriate Activity Assays Are Crucial for the Specific Determination of Proline Dehydrogenase and Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Reductase Activities

Accumulation of proline is a widespread plant response to a broad range of environmental stress conditions including salt and osmotic stress. Proline accumulation is achieved mainly by upregulation of proline biosynthesis in the cytosol and by inhibition of proline degradation in mitochondria. Changes in gene expression or activity levels of the two enzymes catalyzing the first reactions in these two pathways, namely pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) synthetase and proline dehydrogenase (ProDH), are often used to assess the stress response of plants. The difficulty to isolate ProDH in active form has led several researchers to erroneously report proline-dependent NAD+ reduction at pH 10 as ProDH activity. We demonstrate that this activity is due to P5C reductase (P5CR), the second and last enzyme in proline biosynthesis, which works in the reverse direction at unphysiologically high pH. ProDH does not use NAD+ as electron acceptor but can be assayed with the artificial electron acceptor 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP) after detergent-mediated solubilization or enrichment of mitochondria. Seemingly counter-intuitive results from previous publications can be explained in this way and our data highlight the importance of appropriate and specific assays for the detection of ProDH and P5CR activities in crude plant extracts.