Energy Metabolism Of Tumor Cells Research Articles

A system for viably maintaining a stirred suspension of multicellular spheroids during NMR spectroscopy

We have developed a system for the perfusion of a stirred suspension of multicellular spheroids during nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Measurement of the medium temperature, pH, oxygen tension, and glucose and lactate concentrations demonstrated that the macroenvironmental conditions around the spheroids during perfusion matched those in standard spinner culture flasks. Spheroids cultured in the NMR perfusion chamber for up to 48 h were virtually identical to spheroids cultured under standard conditions in terms of volume and cell number growth, the extent of central necrosis, cellular clonogenicity, and proliferative status. To avoid problems in interpreting the NMR spectra, we have used a medium containing 10% of the normal inorganic phosphate concentration; comparative growth and NMR studies showed that this medium had no effect on the results reported. 31P NMR spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that the mean pH, nucleotide triphosphate (NTP) to inorganic phosphate (Pi) ratio, the total amount of NTP, and the total energy charge were essentially constant over 8 h of analysis. Stopping the stirring of the spheroid culture during analysis resulted in depletion of the nucleotide phosphate pool in 30 min, with an accumulation of Pi and a shift to a more acid intracellular pH. This effect could be reversed if stirring was resumed within 30 min. Stopping the perfusion while maintaining stirring resulted in a deterioration of the 31P spectra until no high energy phosphates remained at 120 min and the pH fell to approximately 6. This effect was also partially reversible after 30 min of reperfusion, with recovery to a normal 31P spectrum requiring 10 h. The combination of the spheroid model system with 31P NMR spectroscopic analysis will provide a powerful tool for investigating basic questions about the regulation of tumor cell energy metabolism and viability.

Lonidamine-induced membrane permeability and the effect of adriamycin on the energy metabolism of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Lonidamine-induced membrane permeability and the effect of adriamycin on the energy metabolism of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

The effect of the association of Gossypol and Lonidamine on the energy metabolism of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

The effect of the association of Gossypol and Lonidamine on the energy metabolism of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells has been investigated. The action of the drug on tumor cells was studied by addition of the drugs to cells harvested from Swiss male mice. The results may be summarized as follows: (1) Low concentrations of Gossypol increase the rate of oxygen consumption by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation. High concentrations result in an inhibition of oxygen consumption with a mechanism that must be regarded as not directly related to the uncoupling activity. (2) Gossypol, at concentrations at which it exerts an uncoupling activity, stimulates mitochondrial ATPase which in turn increases the aerobic and anaerobic rates of lactate production. The decrease of glycolysis at high concentrations of Gossypol does not depend on the inhibition of enzymes of the glycolytic pathway, but must be ascribed to cell death. (3) The association of a low concentration of Gossypol with Lonidamine brings about a further inhibition of oxygen consumption. Moreover, Lonidamine abolishes the stimulation of glycolysis induced by Gossypol and lowers lactate production to values that are quite similar to those found with Lonidamine alone. (4) It may be concluded that the association of Gossypol and Lonidamine results in a very effective decrease of the energy requirements of cancer cells.

Energy metabolism of tumor cells. Requirement for a form of hexokinase with a propensity for mitochondrial binding.

Rat liver cytoplasm (postnuclear supernatant) has a low aerobic glycolytic rate in the presence of added glucose, ATP, ADP, Pi, and NAD+, whereas cytoplasm from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells exhibit a high aerobic glycolytic rate which is typical of rapidly proliferating tumor cells. Tumor mitochondria, unlike liver mitochondria, contain bound hexokinase which constitutes about 70% of the total cellular hexokinase activity. The high aerobic glycolytic rate of Ehrlich tumor cytoplasm is reduced markedly if the mitochondria are removed and can be restored almost completely upon addition of the hexokinase-containing tumor mitochondria to tumor cytosol (postmitochondrial supernatant). Addition of tumor mitochondria to liver cytosol can enhance its glycolytic rate to levels approaching those of tumor cytoplasm, whereas added liver mitochondria are without effect on the already low glycolytic rate of liver cytosol. Addition of tumor mitochondria to tumor cytosol increases its glycolytic rate to the level of tumor cytoplasm, as mentioned above, but liver mitochondria added to tumor cytosol actually depress its glycolytic rate to the level of liver cytosol. The stimulatory effect of tumor mitochondria on liver cytosol can be ascribed to its associated hexokinase activity since hexokinase specifically removed from mitochondria of tumor cells can also enhance the glycolytic rate of liver cytosol. The depressing effect of added liver mitochondria on tumor cytosol glycolysis suggests that liver mitochondria can compete more effectively than tumor mitochondria for a common intermediate and/or cofactor. Examination of 12 different tumor cell lines revealed that only those which reached maximum size in 1 month or less, and which have elevated glycolytic activities, had detectable mitochondrially associated hexokinase activity. The studies reported here describe resolution and reconstitution of tumor cytoplasm, supplementation of cytosol with intact mitochondria or mitochondrial hexokinase, and a survey of mitochondrial hexokinase content in various tumors, and provide strong evidence for the view (Bustamante, E., and Pedersen, P. L. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 74, 3735-3739) that a form of hexokinase with a propensity for mitochondrial binding plays a key role in the high aerobic glycolysis of cancer cells.

The effect of the fluorescent probe, 3,3'-dipropylthiadicarbocyanine iodide, on the energy metabolism of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

The fluorescent dye, 3,3'-dipropylthiadicarbocyanine iodide, is frequently used to estimate the cell membrane potential of small cells. We have tested the effects of this dye on glycolytic rate, O2 consumption, and cellular ATP content in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Addition of the dye to steady state cells in the absence of glucose induces a rapid depletion (half-time approximately equal to 5 min) of cellular ATP, which is secondary to a 76% inhibition of O2 consumption. Aerobic glycolysis is stimulated by 76%. Valinomycin produces an additional stimulation of acid production. Our findings indicate that this fluorescent dye alters energy metabolism of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The response is consistent with primary inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation.

腹水癌細胞のエネルギー代謝に関する研究

腹水癌細胞のエネルギー代謝に関する研究

腹水癌細胞のエネルギー代謝に関する研究

腹水癌細胞のエネルギー代謝に関する研究