Serine and Metabolism Regulation: A Novel Mechanism in Antitumor Immunity and Senescence.

Juanjuan Li,Qi Wu,Shengrong Sun,Xinyue Chen

doi:10.14336/ad.2020.0314

Abstract

As one of the nonessential amino acids (NEAAs), serine is involved in the anabolism of multiple macromolecular substances by participating in one-carbon unit metabolism. Thus, rapidly proliferating cells such as tumor cells and activated immune cells are highly dependent on serine. Serine supports the proliferation of various immune cells through multiple pathways to enhance the antitumor immune response. Moreover, serine influences aging specificity in an epigenetic and metabolic manner. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the relationship between serine metabolism, antitumor immunity, and senescence. The metabolic regulation of serine seems to be a key point of intervention in antitumor immunity and aging-related disease, providing an opportunity for several novel therapeutics.

Highlights

Nonessential amino acids (NEAAs) are the amino acids that human cells can synthesize in vivo
Some breast cancer and pancreatic cancer cells overexpress several key enzymes involved in synthesis pathway (SSP) (PSAT1, PSPH, and SHMT2), which leads to increased intracellular serine concentrations, thereby contributing to the long-term maintenance of tumor cell growth [37, 38]
Various studies have shown that serine metabolism plays an integral role in antitumor immunity and senescence through diverse metabolic pathways and epigenetic regulation

Summary

Introduction

Nonessential amino acids (NEAAs) are the amino acids that human cells can synthesize in vivo. Some key regulators that mediate serine synthesis and metabolism affect the growth, proliferation, and differentiation of immune cells [5,6,7]. Some breast cancer and pancreatic cancer cells overexpress several key enzymes involved in SSP (PSAT1, PSPH, and SHMT2), which leads to increased intracellular serine concentrations, thereby contributing to the long-term maintenance of tumor cell growth [37, 38].

Results

Conclusion