Browsing by Subject "Glycolysis"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Circ_0031242 regulates the functional properties of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the miR-944/MAD2L1 axis
    (Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2023) Lin, Jianwei; Lin, Zenghai; Hua, Yaqiong; Chen, Yan
    Background. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) possess key functions in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nonetheless, the actions of individual circRNAs in HCC remain undefined. Methods. circ_0031242, miR-944, and MAD2L1 expression were quantified by qRT-PCR. Transwell assay was utilized to examine cell invasion and migration. Glucose consumption and lactate production were measured to assess the impact on glycolysis. The relationships among circ_0031242, MAD2L1, and miR944 were examined via luciferase reporter assay. Results. circ_0031242 was notably augmented in HCC. Loss of function of circ_0031242 hindered cell proliferation, invasion, migration, glycolysis, and promoted apoptosis, as well as impeding HCC tumor growth. circ_0031242 directly targeted miR-944. Inhibition of miR-944 counteracted the effects of sicirc_0031242 on HCC cells. Additionally, miR-944 was proved to directly target MAD2L1 in HCC cells. Moreover, the promotion of MAD2L1 was able to rescue the inhibition of high miR-944 expression on HCC cell progression. Meanwhile, circ_0031242 involved the post-transcriptional modulation of MAD2L1 through miR-944. Conclusion. This study suggested that circ_0031242 regulated tumor cell progression and tumor growth through the miR-944/MAD2L1 axis in HCC.
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    High expression of PKM2 as a poor prognosis indicator is associated with radiation resistance in cervical cancer
    (Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2015) Zhao, Yajie; Shen, Liangfang; Chen, Xi; Qian, Yujie; Zhou, Qin; Wang, Ying; Li, Kai; Liu, Miaomiao; Zhang, Sai; Huang, Xinqiong
    Our study aimed to investigate the association of Pyruvate Kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2) with radiation resistance in locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma (LACSCC). We retros-pectively reviewed 132 female patients who received primary radiation therapy to treat LACSCC at Federation Internationale of Gynecologie and Obstetrigue（FIGO）stages IB-IVA. Forty-seven patients with progression free survival (PFS) of less than 36 months were regarded to have radiation resistance. Eighty-five patients with PFS no less than 36 months were regarded as radiation sensitive. Using immunohistochemistry, we found that the overexpression rate of PKM2 in radiation resistant and radiation sensitive patients was 87.2% and 57.6%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p＜0.001). The 5-year progress free survival rates in patients with low and high expression of PKM2 was 80.4% and 60.5%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.008). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified that high expression of PKM2 is an independent negative prognostic factor in cervical cancer patients [Hazard ratio (95% CI), 2.888 (1.347, 6.194) p=0.006]. These results demonstrate that overexpression of PKM2 contributes to radiation resistance and acts a poor prognosis indicator in patients with LACSCC.
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    Monocarboxylate transporters as targets and mediators in cancer therapy response
    (F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2014) Baltazar, Fátima; Pinheiro, C.; Morais-Santos, F.; Azevedo-Silva, J.; Queirós, O.; Preto, A.; Casal, M.
    Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) belong to a family of transporters, encoded by the SLC16 gene family, which is presently composed by 14 members, but only MCT1 to 4 have been biochemically characterized. They have important functions in healthy tissues, being involved in the transmembrane transport of lactic acid and other monocarboxylic acids in human cells. One of the recently recognized hallmarks of cancer is altered metabolism, with high rates of glucose consumption and consequent lactate production. To maintain this metabolic phenotype, cancer cells upregulate a series of plasma membrane proteins, including MCTs. MCT1 and MCT4, in particular, play a dual role in the maintenance of the metabolic phenotype of tumour cells. On one hand, they facilitate the efflux of lactate and, on the other hand, they contribute to the preservation of the intracellular pH, by co-transporting a proton. Thus, MCTs are attractive targets in cancer therapy, especially in cancers with a hyper-glycolytic and acid-resistant phenotype. Also recent evidence demonstrates that MCTs are involved in cancer cell uptake of chemotherapeutic agents, including 3-bromopyruvate. In this way, MCTs can act as “Trojan horses”, as their elevated expression in cancer cells can mediate the entry of this chemotherapeutic agent into the cells and selectively kill cancer cells. As a result, MCTs will be mediators of chemotherapeutic response, and their expression can be used as a molecular marker to predict response to chemotherapy.
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    Pathogenic NLRP3 mutants form constitutively active inflammasomes resulting in immune-metabolic limitation of IL-1β production
    (Nature Research, 2024-02-06) Molina-López, Cristina; Hurtado-Navarro, Laura; Garcia, Carlos J.; Angosto-Bazarra, Diego; Vallejo, Fernando; Marques-Soares, Joana R.; Vargas, Carmen; Bujan-Rivas, Segundo; Tomás-Barberán, Francisco A.; Arostegui, Juan I.; Pelegrín Vivancos, Pablo; Tapia Abellán, Ana; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología
    Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is an autoinflammatory condition resulting from monoallelic NLRP3 variants that facilitate IL-1b production. Although these are gain-of-function variants characterised by hypersensitivity to cell priming, patients with CAPS and animal models of the disease may present inflammatory flares without identifiable external triggers. Here we find that CAPS-associated NLRP3 variants are forming constitutively active inflammasome, which induce increased basal cleavage of gasdermin D, IL-18 release and pyroptosis, with a concurrent basal pro-inflammatory gene expression signature, including the induction of nuclear receptors 4A. The constitutively active NLRP3-inflammasome is responsive to the selective NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 and its activation is regulated by deubiquitination. Despite their preactivated state, the CAPS inflammasomes are responsive to activation of the NF-kB pathway. NLRP3-inflammasomes with CAPS-associated variants affect the immunometabolism of the myeloid compartment, leading to disruptions in lipids and amino acid pathways and impaired glycolysis, limiting IL-1b production. In summary, NLRP3 variants causing CAPS form a constitutively active inflammasome inducing pyroptosis and IL-18 release without cell priming, which enables the host's innate defence against pathogens while also limiting IL-1b–dependent inflammatory episodes through immunometabolism modulation.
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    Protection from oxidative stress by enhanced glycolysis; a possible mechanism of cellular immortalization
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2007) Kondoh, H.; Lleonart, M.E.; Bernard, D.; Gil, J.
    Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role not only in the physiological signal transduction but also in the pathogenesis of several human diseases such as atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, aging or cancer amongst others. Oxidative stress is also responsible for cellular and organism senescence, in accordance with what Harman initially proposed in the free radical theory of aging. Recent findings support the notion that protection from oxidative stress can increase life span significantly. We reported that enhanced glycolysis could modulate cellular life span with reduction of oxidative stress. Moreover, the tumor suppressor gene p53 controls post-transcriptionally the level of the glycolytic enzyme, phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM). As enhanced glycolysis is a distinctive and prominent feature of cancer cells (termed the Warburg effect), our findings disclosed a novel aspect of the Warburg effect: the connection between senescence and oxidative stress.
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    S100A2 upregulates GLUT1 expression to promote glycolysis in the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
    (Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2024) Peng, Ying; Xia, Jing; Zhou, Dinggang; Yang, Zhongchun; Zeng, Ruifang; Xu, Min; Peng, Hongwei
    Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor. Among the S100 protein family members, the imbalance of S100 calcium-binding protein A2 (S100A2) was related to the pathogenesis of several types of cancer, and S100A2 has been reported to be upregulated in the plasma of NPC patients; however, its specific role in NPC pathogenesis remains unclear. Thus, this study aims to determine the potential role of S100A2 in NPC to provide novel insights into NPC management. C666-1 and NPC/HK-1 cells were transfected with S100A2 silencing/overexpression (si/oe) constructs. For in vivo investigations, NPC/HK-1 cells were transfected with si/oe-S100A2 to induce tumor formation in nude mice. Cellular viability and apoptosis were assessed using the CCK8 assay, colony-forming assay, and flow cytometry. Glucose uptake and lactate production levels were quantified using biochemical assays. S100A2 expression was measured via RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence were performed to determine the levels of S100A2, PI3K, AKT, p-PI3K, p-AKT, GLUT1, HK-2, LDHA, and ki-67 proteins. S100A2 expression levels were significantly higher in NPC cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues. Similarly, C666-1 and NPC/HK-1 cells exhibited increased S100A2 expression, and silencing S100A2 significantly inhibited NPC cell viability, proliferation, glucose uptake, and lactate production, and induced apoptosis and decreased the protein levels of GLUT1, LDHA, and HK2 in NPC cells. Conversely, S100A2 overexpression enhanced these characteristics in NPC cells but could be mitigated by the PI3K/AKT inhibitor (LY294002). Silencing S100A2 suppressed the tumor formation of NPC/HK-1 cells, while S100A2 overexpression promoted tumor formation and could be hindered by a GLUT1 inhibitor (WZB117). S100A2 is upregulated in cancer tissues of NPC patients and was found to promote proliferation, glycolysis, and tumor formation in NPC cells through its interaction with GLUT1
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    TGF-β links glycolysis and immunosuppression in glioblastoma
    (Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2021) Gong, Lingli; Ji, Li; Xu, Daxing; Wang, Jingjing; Zou, Jian
    Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive brain tumor in adults, characterized by diffuse infiltration, dysplasia, and resistance to therapy. Metabolic remodeling and immunosuppression are typical events which contribute to GBM progression, but the molecular link between these two events remains largely undetermined. Studies have shown that high levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and its receptors are associated with glioma malignancy and a poor prognosis. TGF-β plays an important role in cell metabolism and immunity. During tumorigenesis, TGFβ induces a shift in cell metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis, providing a favorable environment for tumor growth. Locally, TGFβ creates an immunosuppressive microenvironment and promotes the malignant phenotype of GBM. In this review, we aim to link GBM aerobic glycolysis and immunosuppression through TGF-β to provide new ideas for the study of GBM.
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    Upregulation of autophagy and glycolysis markers in keloid hypoxic-zone fibroblasts: Morphological characteristics and implications
    (Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2018) Okuno, Ryoko; Ito, Yuko; Eid, Nabil; Otsuki, Yoshinori; Kondo, Yoichi; Ueda, Koichi
    Keloid is a fibro-proliferative skin disorder with tumor-like behavior and dependence on anaerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect), but its exact pathogenesis is unknown. Although autophagy is widely accepted as a lysosomal pathway for cell survival and cellular homeostasis (specifically upon exposure to stressors such as hypoxia), very few studies have investigated the involvement of autophagy and related glycolytic effectors in keloidogenesis. Here the authors examined the expression and cellular localization of autophagy proteins (LC3, pan-cathepsin), glycolytic markers (LDH, MCT1, MCT4) and the transcription factor HIF isoforms in human keloid samples using immunohistochemical analysis and double-labeling immunofluorescence methods. Based on H&E staining and expression of CD31, keloids were compartmentalized into hypoxic central and normoxic marginal zones. Vimentin-expressing fibroblasts in the central zone exhibited greater autophagy than their marginalzone counterparts, as evidenced by increased LC3 puncta formation and co-localization with lysosomal pan-cathepsin. LDH (a lactate stimulator), MCT4 (a lactate exporter) and HIF-1α expression levels were also higher in central-zone fibroblasts. Conversely, HIF-2α expression was upregulated in fibroblasts and endothelial cells of the peripheral zone, while MCT1 was expressed in both zones. Taken together, these observations suggest that upregulation of autophagy and glycolysis markers in keloid hypoxic-zone fibroblasts may indicate a prosurvival mechanism allowing the extrusion of lactate to marginal-zone fibroblasts via metabolic coupling. The authors believe this is the first report on differential expression of autophagic and glycolytic markers in keloid-zone fibroblasts. The study results indicate that autophagy inhibitors and MCT4 blockers may have therapeutic implications in keloid treatment