Alanine Secretion Research Articles

Abstract 437: Stromal support of pancreatic tumor metabolism

Abstract Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease characterized by a prominent desmoplastic stromal reaction and deregulated metabolism. The role of stroma in PDAC biology is complex and has been shown to play critical roles that may differ depending on the biological context. The intense stromal reaction also impacts the vasculature, leading to a highly hypoxic and nutrient poor environment. As such, these tumors must adapt how nutrients are captured and utilized to support their metabolic needs. In this talk, I will describe how stromal-associated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are critical for PDAC metabolism through the secretion of non-essential amino acids (NEAA). Specifically, we uncovered an undescribed role for alanine, which outcompetes glucose and glutamine-derived carbon in PDAC to fuel the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and thus NEAA and lipid biosynthesis. This shift in fuel sources decreases the dependence on glucose and serum-derived nutrients, which are limiting in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Moreover, we demonstrated that PSC alanine secretion is dependent on PSC autophagy, a process stimulated by the cancer cells. Thus, our results demonstrate a novel metabolic crosstalk between PSCs and cancer cells, with PSC-derived alanine as an alternative carbon source, and highlight a previously unappreciated metabolic network within pancreatic tumors where diverse fuel sources are utilized to promote growth in an austere tumor microenvironment. Citation Format: Costas A. Lyssiotis. Stromal support of pancreatic tumor metabolism [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 437. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-437

Erratum: Pancreatic stellate cells support tumour metabolism through autophagic alanine secretion.

Nature 536, 479–483 (2016); doi:10.1038/nature19084 In this Letter, during the production process, one of the images in Fig. 3a was inadvertently labelled with the incorrect PDAC cell line name. The second picture from the left should have been labelled “hPSC-LC3 + 8988T”, rather than “hPSC-LC3 + Tu8902”, to match the quantification provided in Fig.

Pancreatic stellate cells support tumour metabolism through autophagic alanine secretion.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease characterized by an intense fibrotic stromal response and deregulated metabolism. The role of the stroma in PDAC biology is complex and it has been shown to play critical roles that differ depending on the biological context. The stromal reaction also impairs the vasculature, leading to a highly hypoxic, nutrient-poor environment. As such, these tumours must alter how they capture and use nutrients to support their metabolic needs. Here we show that stroma-associated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are critical for PDAC metabolism through the secretion of non-essential amino acids (NEAA). Specifically, we uncover a previously undescribed role for alanine, which outcompetes glucose and glutamine-derived carbon in PDAC to fuel the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and thus NEAA and lipid biosynthesis. This shift in fuel source decreases the tumour’s dependence on glucose and serum-derived nutrients, which are limited in the pancreatic tumour microenvironment. Moreover, we demonstrate that alanine secretion by PSCs is dependent on PSC autophagy, a process that is stimulated by cancer cells. Thus, our results demonstrate a novel metabolic interaction between PSCs and cancer cells, in which PSC-derived alanine acts as an alternative carbon source. This finding highlights a previously unappreciated metabolic network within pancreatic tumours in which diverse fuel sources are used to promote growth in an austere tumour microenvironment.

Cancer metabolism: Friendly neighbours feed tumour cells.

In pancreatic cancer, neighbouring non-cancerous cells degrade their own proteins through a process called autophagy and release amino acids that are then taken up and used by the cancer cells. See Letter p.479 Cancer cells generally have metabolic needs that differ from those of neighbouring normal cells, and hence display rewired metabolic networks. Cristovao Sousa et al. show that, in pancreatic cancers, stellate cells in the tumour environment supply cancer cells with the amino acid alanine as the carbon needed for anabolic processes when other sources are scarce. Tumour cells in turn stimulate autophagy in stellate cells, which is needed for alanine secretion. This cross-talk allows pancreatic cancer cells to fulfil their metabolic requirements in an environment lacking in other essential nutrients.

Patterns of Amino Acid Metabolism by Proliferating Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The nutritional requirements of stem cells have not been determined; in particular, the amino acid metabolism of stem cells is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the amino acid metabolism of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), with focus on two questions: Which amino acids are consumed and/or secreted by hMSCs and at what rates? To answer these questions, hMSCs were cultured on tissue culture plastic and in a bioreactor, and their amino acid profile was analyzed. The results showed that the kinetics of hMSCs growth and amino acid metabolism were significantly higher for hMSCs in tissue culture plastic than in the bioreactor. Despite differences in culture conditions, 8 essential and 6 nonessential amino acids were consumed by hMSCs in both tissue culture plastic and bioreactor cultures. Glutamine was the most consumed amino acid with significantly higher rates than for any other amino acid. The metabolism of nonessential amino acids by hMSCs deviated significantly from that of other cell lines. The secretion of alanine, glycine, glutamate, and ornithine by hMSCs showed that there is a strong overflow metabolism that can be due to the high concentrations of amino acids provided in the medium. In addition, the data showed that there is a metabolic pattern for proliferating hMSCs, which can contribute to the design of medium without animal serum for stem cells. Further, this study shows how to implement amino acid rates and metabolic principles in three-dimensional stem cell biology.

Serine Biosynthesis with One Carbon Catabolism and the Glycine Cleavage System Represents a Novel Pathway for ATP Generation

Previous experimental evidence indicates that some cancer cells have an alternative glycolysis pathway with net zero ATP production, implying that upregulation of glycolysis in these cells may not be related to the generation of ATP. Here we use a genome-scale model of human cell metabolism to investigate the potential metabolic alterations in cells using net zero ATP glycolysis. We uncover a novel pathway for ATP generation that involves reactions from serine biosynthesis, one-carbon metabolism and the glycine cleavage system, and show that the pathway is transcriptionally upregulated in an inducible murine model of Myc-driven liver tumorigenesis. This pathway has a predicted two-fold higher flux rate in cells using net zero ATP glycolysis than those using standard glycolysis and generates twice as much ATP with significantly lower rate of lactate - but higher rate of alanine secretion. Thus, in cells using the standard - or the net zero ATP glycolysis pathways a significant portion of the glycolysis flux is always associated with ATP generation, and the ratio between the flux rates of the two pathways determines the rate of ATP generation and lactate and alanine secretion during glycolysis.

Serine biosynthesis with one carbon catabolism represents a novel pathway for ATP generation in cells using alternative glycolysis with zero net ATP production

Recent experimental evidence indicates that some cancer cells have an alternative glycolysis pathway with net zero ATP production, implying that upregulation of glycolysis in these cells may not be related to the generation of ATP. Here we use a genome-scale model of human cell metabolism to investigate the potential metabolic alterations in cells using net zero ATP glycolysis. We uncover a novel pathway for ATP generation that involves reactions from the serine biosynthesis and one-carbon metabolism pathways. This pathway has a predicted two-fold higher flux rate in cells using net zero ATP glycolysis than those using standard glycolysis and generates twice as much ATP with significantly lower rate of lactate- but higher rate of alanine secretion. Thus, in cells using the standard- or the net zero ATP glycolysis pathways a significant portion of the glycolysis flux is always associated with ATP generation, and the ratio between the flux rates of the two pathways determines the rate of ATP generation and lactate and alanine secretion during glycolysis.

Serine biosynthesis with one carbon catabolism represents a novel pathway for ATP generation in cells using alternative glycolysis with zero net ATP production

AbstractRecent experimental evidence indicates that some cancer cells have an alternative glycolysis pathway with net zero ATP production, implying that upregulation of glycolysis in these cells may not be related to the generation of ATP. Here we use a genome-scale model of human cell metabolism to investigate the potential metabolic alterations in cells using net zero ATP glycolysis. We uncover a novel pathway for ATP generation that involves reactions from the serine biosynthesis and one-carbon metabolism pathways. This pathway has a predicted two-fold higher flux rate in cells using net zero ATP glycolysis than those using standard glycolysis and generates twice as much ATP with significantly lower rate of lactate- but higher rate of alanine secretion. Thus, in cells using the standard- or the net zero ATP glycolysis pathways a significant portion of the glycolysis flux is always associated with ATP generation, and the ratio between the flux rates of the two pathways determines the rate of ATP generation and lactate and alanine secretion during glycolysis.

Metabolic modulation induced by oestradiol and DHT in immature rat Sertoli cells culturedin vitro

Sertoli cells actively metabolize glucose that is converted into lactate, which is used by developing germ cells for their energy metabolism. Androgens and oestrogens have general metabolic roles that reach far beyond reproductive processes. Hence, the main purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sex hormones on metabolite secretion/consumption in primary cultures of rat Sertoli cells. Sertoli cell-enriched cultures were maintained in a defined medium for 50h. Glucose and pyruvate consumption, and lactate and alanine secretion were determined, by 1H-NMR (proton NMR) spectra analysis, in the presence or absence of 100nM E2 (17β-oestradiol) or 100nM 5α-DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Cells cultured in the absence (control) or presence of E2 consumed the same amount of glucose (29±2pmol/cell) at similar rates during the 50h. After 25h of treatment with DHT, glucose consumption and glucose consumption rate significantly increased. Control and E2-treated cells secreted similar amounts of lactate during the 50h, while the amount of lactate secreted by DHT-treated cells was significantly lower. Such a decrease was concomitant with a significant decrease in LDH A [LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) chain A] and MCT4 [MCT (monocarboxylate transporter) isoform 4] mRNA levels after 50h treatment in hormonally treated groups, being more pronounced in DHT-treated groups. Finally, alanine production was significantly increased in E2-treated cells after 25h treatment, which indicated a lower redox/higher oxidative state for the cells in those conditions. Together, these results support the existence of a relation between sex hormones action and energy metabolism, providing an important assessment of androgens and oestrogens as metabolic modulators in rat Sertoli cells.

Serine biosynthesis with one carbon catabolism represents a novel pathway for ATP generation in cells using alternative glycolysis with zero net ATP production

AbstractRecent experimental evidence indicates that some cancer cells have an alternative glycolysis pathway with net zero ATP production, implying that upregulation of glycolysis in these cells may not be related to the generation of ATP. Here we use a genome-scale model of human cell metabolism to investigate the potential metabolic alterations in cells using net zero ATP glycolysis. We uncover a novel pathway for ATP generation that involves reactions from the serine biosynthesis and one-carbon metabolism pathways. This pathway has a predicted two-fold higher flux rate in cells using net zero ATP glycolysis than those using standard glycolysis and generates twice as much ATP with significantly lower rate of lactate- but higher rate of alanine secretion. Thus, in cells using the standard- or the net zero ATP glycolysis pathways a significant portion of the glycolysis flux is always associated with ATP generation, and the ratio between the flux rates of the two pathways determines the rate of ATP generation and lactate and alanine secretion during glycolysis.

Beyond aerobic glycolysis: Transformed cells can engage in glutamine metabolism that exceeds the requirement for protein and nucleotide synthesis

Tumor cell proliferation requires rapid synthesis of macromolecules including lipids, proteins, and nucleotides. Many tumor cells exhibit rapid glucose consumption, with most of the glucose-derived carbon being secreted as lactate despite abundant oxygen availability (the Warburg effect). Here, we used 13C NMR spectroscopy to examine the metabolism of glioblastoma cells exhibiting aerobic glycolysis. In these cells, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was active but was characterized by an efflux of substrates for use in biosynthetic pathways, particularly fatty acid synthesis. The success of this synthetic activity depends on activation of pathways to generate reductive power (NADPH) and to restore oxaloacetate for continued TCA cycle function (anaplerosis). Surprisingly, both these needs were met by a high rate of glutamine metabolism. First, conversion of glutamine to lactate (glutaminolysis) was rapid enough to produce sufficient NADPH to support fatty acid synthesis. Second, despite substantial mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism, pyruvate carboxylation was suppressed, and anaplerotic oxaloacetate was derived from glutamine. Glutamine catabolism was accompanied by secretion of alanine and ammonia, such that most of the amino groups from glutamine were lost from the cell rather than incorporated into other molecules. These data demonstrate that transformed cells exhibit a high rate of glutamine consumption that cannot be explained by the nitrogen demand imposed by nucleotide synthesis or maintenance of nonessential amino acid pools. Rather, glutamine metabolism provides a carbon source that facilitates the cell's ability to use glucose-derived carbon and TCA cycle intermediates as biosynthetic precursors.

Network analysis of intermediary metabolism using linear optimization: II. Interpretation of hybridoma cell metabolism

The reaction network of intermediary metabolism in the mammalian cell has been studied using linear optimization. Experimental measurements of metabolite fluxes entering and leaving hybridoma cell line 167.4G5.3 have been used to interpret the interactions of nutrients and the demand for intermediates for growth. We have ascertained the effects of waste production and energy loads on the cell growth rate using linear optimization. This analysis has shown that neither the maintenance demand for ATP nor the antibody production rate limit growth rate at normal experimental conditions. In addition, the cell uses its nutrients for growth with only 57-78% efficiency, due to the large secretion of alanine. The sensitivity of the growth rate with respect to the demand for cofactors and the supply of nutrients is given by the shadow price for each constraint. The shadow prices have shown that amino acids are the limiting nutrients at experimental conditions. The sensitivities of the growth rate to flux through reactions, given by the reduced costs, have shown that flux through the reaction glutamate dehydrogenase may actually slow down cell growth. We have also found that intermediates with lower shadow prices, and thus with lower value to the cell, are the precursors to compounds secreted from the cell. The shadow prices are also a means for comparing the costs of synthesizing various intermediates in terms of the two major nutrients, glucose and glutamine. At anaerobic conditions, glucose and glutamine have similar values to the cell, and the cost to synthesize most intermediates in terms of glucose is identical to the cost in terms of glutamine. At aerobic conditions, glucose is nearly twice as valuable to the cell as glutamine.