Sirtuin 1 Protects the Mitochondria in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Suppressing Hypoxia-induced Factor-1 Alpha Expression

Background: We hypothesized that Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) might attenuate the Warburg effect in tumor cells by modulating hypoxia-induced factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression. This study aimed to explore the role and the underlying mechanism of SIRT1 in protecting the mitochondrial functions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis were conducted to determine gene expression in HCC cells. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and luciferase reporter assays were performed to examine DNA-protein interactions. Colony formation and MTT assays were carried out to explore the role of SIRT1 in HCC cell proliferation in vitro. PLC5 and Huh7 tumor xenografts were generated in mice to investigate the role of SIRT1–HIF-1α signaling in HCC development in vivo. Results: In different HCC cell lines, overexpression of SIRT1 promoted oxidative phosphorylation-associated gene expressions, ATP production, cell proliferation, and apoptotic protein expression while attenuating VEGF expression. In mice, overexpression of SIRT1 resulted in significant reductions in the weights of PLC5 and Huh7 tumor xenografts. Knockdown of SIRT1 exhibited opposite effects. Mechanistically, overexpression of SIRT1 promoted HIF-1α deacetylation, VHL-mediated HIF-1α degradation, and AMPK expression. Furthermore, SIRT1 interfered with the HIF-1α–c-Myc interaction to stimulate the transcription of a mitochondrial biogenesis enhancer mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). Overexpression of HIF-1α completely reversed the effects of SIRT1.Conclusions: SIRT1 protects the mitochondria of HCC cells via suppressing HIF-1α expression, suggesting that SIRT1 may exert antitumor activity in HCC by reducing the Warburg effect.

Genetic Impairment of Succinate Metabolism Disrupts Bioenergetic Sensing in Adrenal Neuroendocrine Cancer

Metabolic dysfunction mutations can impair energy sensing and cause cancer. Loss of function of mitochondrial TCA cycle enzyme, succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB) results in various forms of cancer typified by pheochromocytoma (PC). Here we delineate a signaling cascade where the loss of SDHB induces the Warburg effect in PC tumors, triggers dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis, and aberrantly activates calpain and the protein kinase Cdk5, through conversion of its cofactor from p35 to p25. Consequently, aberrant Cdk5 initiates a cascade of phospho-signaling where GSK3 inhibition inactivates energy-sensing by AMP-kinase through dephosphorylation of the AMP-kinase γ subunit, PRKAG2. Overexpression of p25-GFP in mouse adrenal chromaffin cells also elicits this phosphorylation signaling and causes PC tumor formation. A novel Cdk5 inhibitor, MRT3-007, reversed this phospho-cascade, invoking an anti-Warburg effect, cell cycle arrest, and senescence-like phenotype. This therapeutic approach halted tumor progression in vivo. Thus, we reveal an important novel mechanistic feature of metabolic sensing and demonstrate that its dysregulation underlies tumor progression in PC and likely other cancers.

Hydrogen Sulfide Attenuates the Cognitive Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease Rats via Promoting Hippocampal Microglia M2 Polarization by Enhancement of Hippocampal Warburg Effect

Identification of innovative therapeutic targets for the treatment of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is urgently needed. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays an important role in cognitive function. Therefore, this work is aimed at investigating whether H2S attenuates the cognitive impairment in PD and the underlying mechanisms. In the rotenone- (ROT-) established PD rat model, NaHS (a donor of H2S) attenuated the cognitive impairment and promoted microglia polarization from M1 towards M2 in the hippocampus of PD rats. NaHS also dramatically upregulated the Warburg effect in the hippocampus of PD rats. 2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG, an inhibitor of the Warburg effect) abolished NaHS-upregulated Warburg effect in the hippocampus of PD rats. Moreover, the inhibited hippocampal Warburg effect by 2-DG abrogated H2S-excited the enhancement of hippocampal microglia M2 polarization and the improvement of cognitive function in ROT-exposed rats. Our data demonstrated that H2S inhibits the cognitive dysfunction in PD via promoting microglia M2 polarization by enhancement of hippocampal Warburg effect.

Type B lactic acidosis associated with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and the Warburg effect

Type B lactic acidosis is a rare complication of non-tissue perfusion abnormalities caused by solid tumors or hematologic malignancies. Herein, we present the case of a 42-year-old man with type B lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia who was found to have a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The cause of lactic acidosis and/or hypoglycemia is thought to be the Warburg effect, which is when the metabolic rate of a rapidly growing malignant tumor is very high and dominated by glycolysis. Systemic damage from type B lactic acidosis can occur when the increased rate of glycolysis exceeds the normal muscle and liver lactic acid clearance rate. The Warburg effect is a rare but serious condition that needs to be recognized, not only in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, but also in other malignancies. The prognosis of lactic acidosis in patients with malignant tumors is very poor. Currently, effective chemotherapy seems to be the only hope for survival.

Extracellular citrate and metabolic adaptations of cancer cells

It is well established that cancer cells acquire energy via the Warburg effect and oxidative phosphorylation. Citrate is considered to play a crucial role in cancer metabolism by virtue of its production in the reverse Krebs cycle from glutamine. Here, we review the evidence that extracellular citrate is one of the key metabolites of the metabolic pathways present in cancer cells. We review the different mechanisms by which pathways involved in keeping redox balance respond to the need of intracellular citrate synthesis under different extracellular metabolic conditions. In this context, we further discuss the hypothesis that extracellular citrate plays a role in switching between oxidative phosphorylation and the Warburg effect while citrate uptake enhances metastatic activities and therapy resistance. We also present the possibility that organs rich in citrate such as the liver, brain and bones might form a perfect niche for the secondary tumour growth and improve survival of colonising cancer cells. Consistently, metabolic support provided by cancer-associated and senescent cells is also discussed. Finally, we highlight evidence on the role of citrate on immune cells and its potential to modulate the biological functions of pro- and anti-tumour immune cells in the tumour microenvironment. Collectively, we review intriguing evidence supporting the potential role of extracellular citrate in the regulation of the overall cancer metabolism and metastatic activity.

METTL3-Mediated DLGAP1 Antisense RNA 2 Promotes Gastric Cancer Tumorigenesis Through Facilitating C-Myc-Dependent Warburg Effect

Background The critical roles of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification have been demonstrated by more and more evidence. However, the cross-talking of m6A and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in gastric cancer (GC) tumorigenesis is still unclear. Here, our work focused on the functions and molecular mechanism of m6A-modified lncRNA DLGAP1 antisense RNA 2 (DLGAP1-AS2) in GC. Methods LncRNA expression profile data was derived from GEO. M6A profile was screened using Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-Seq). The metabolism assays were conducted using quantitative analysis of glucose, lactate, ATP and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). The m6A level of specific RNA was identified using MeRIP-qPCR. The molecular interaction was detected using RIP assay. Results Microarray analysis found that lncRNA DLGAP1-AS2 up-regulated in GC cells. Clinical data showed that DLGAP1-AS2 high-expression was correlated with advanced pathological stage and poor prognosis. Functionally, DLGAP1-AS2 promoted the Warburg effect (aerobic glycolysis) and knockdown of DLGAP1-AS2 suppressed the tumor growth of GC cells. Mechanistically, m6A methyltransferase METTL3 enhanced the stability of DLGAP1-AS2 via m6A site binding. Moreover, DLGAP1-AS2 interacted with YTHDF1 to enhance the stability of c-Myc mRNA through DLGAP1-AS2/m6A/YTHDF1/c-Myc mRNA. Conclusions In conclusion, our work indicates the functions of m6A-modified DLGAP1-AS2 in the GC aerobic glycolysis, disclosing a potential m6A-dependent manner for GC treatment.