Abstract 3494: Downregulation of SREBPs inhibited colon cancer cell growth and tumor initiation by alteration of metabolism

Abstract

Abstract Sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) belong to a family of transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes required for the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol. There are three SREBP isoforms, SREBP1a, SREBP1c and SREBP2, have been identified in mammalian cells. SREBP1a and SREBP1c are derived from a single gene through the use of alternative transcription start sites. Increasing evidence suggests that increased lipogenesis is needed for cancer cells to accommodate high rates of proliferation. Activation of SREBP1 and enhanced expression of its target genes have been observed in different types of human cancers. However, the functional importance of SREBPs in colon cancer remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of SREBP-mediated lipid biosynthesis in promoting tumor growth and initiation by regulating cellular metabolism in colon cancer. Knockdown of SREBP-1 or SREBP-2 decreased the expression of target genes required for lipid biosynthesis and levels of fatty acids and triacylglycerides in colon cancer cells. Bioenergetic analysis using Seahorse XF96 Extracelluar Flux Analyzer revealed that silencing SREBP-1 or SREBP-2 expression reduced the mitochondrial respiration, glycolysis, as well as fatty acid oxidation suggesting an inhibition of cellular metabolism. As a result, the rate of cell proliferation and the ability of cancer cells to form tumor spheroids in suspension were decreased. Similar results were obtained in colon cancer cells in which SCAP, an upstream protease responsible for activating SREBP-1 and SREBP-2, was silenced. Mechanistically, downregulation of SREBPs inhibited the activation of AMPK and Akt signaling. Furthermore, knockdown of SREBP-1 or SREBP-2 inhibited xenograft tumor growth in vivo and significantly decreased the expression of genes associated cancer stem cells. Taken together, our findings establish the molecular basis of SREBPs-dependent metabolic regulation and provide a rationale for targeting fatty acid synthesis as a promising approach in colon cancer treatment. Citation Format: Yang-an Wen, Xiaopeng Xiong, Yekaterina Zaytseva1, Tianyan Gao. Downregulation of SREBPs inhibited colon cancer cell growth and tumor initiation by alteration of metabolism [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3494.