PCK1 negatively regulates cell cycle progression and hepatoma cell proliferation via the AMPK/p27Kip1 axis
Abstract Background Altered glucose metabolism endows tumor cells with metabolic flexibility for biosynthesis requirements. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1), a key enzyme in the gluconeogenesis pathway, is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and predicts poor prognosis. Overexp...
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BMC
2019-02-01
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Series: | Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research |
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Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13046-019-1029-y |
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record_format |
Article |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Lin Tuo Jin Xiang Xuanming Pan Jieli Hu Hua Tang Li Liang Jie Xia Yuan Hu Wenlu Zhang Ailong Huang Kai Wang Ni Tang |
spellingShingle |
Lin Tuo Jin Xiang Xuanming Pan Jieli Hu Hua Tang Li Liang Jie Xia Yuan Hu Wenlu Zhang Ailong Huang Kai Wang Ni Tang PCK1 negatively regulates cell cycle progression and hepatoma cell proliferation via the AMPK/p27Kip1 axis Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 Hepatocellular carcinoma Cell cycle arrest CDK/Rb/E2F pathway AMP-activated protein kinase |
author_facet |
Lin Tuo Jin Xiang Xuanming Pan Jieli Hu Hua Tang Li Liang Jie Xia Yuan Hu Wenlu Zhang Ailong Huang Kai Wang Ni Tang |
author_sort |
Lin Tuo |
title |
PCK1 negatively regulates cell cycle progression and hepatoma cell proliferation via the AMPK/p27Kip1 axis |
title_short |
PCK1 negatively regulates cell cycle progression and hepatoma cell proliferation via the AMPK/p27Kip1 axis |
title_full |
PCK1 negatively regulates cell cycle progression and hepatoma cell proliferation via the AMPK/p27Kip1 axis |
title_fullStr |
PCK1 negatively regulates cell cycle progression and hepatoma cell proliferation via the AMPK/p27Kip1 axis |
title_full_unstemmed |
PCK1 negatively regulates cell cycle progression and hepatoma cell proliferation via the AMPK/p27Kip1 axis |
title_sort |
pck1 negatively regulates cell cycle progression and hepatoma cell proliferation via the ampk/p27kip1 axis |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research |
issn |
1756-9966 |
publishDate |
2019-02-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Altered glucose metabolism endows tumor cells with metabolic flexibility for biosynthesis requirements. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1), a key enzyme in the gluconeogenesis pathway, is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and predicts poor prognosis. Overexpression of PCK1 has been shown to suppress liver tumor growth, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Methods mRNA and protein expression patterns of PCK1, AMPK, pAMPK, and the CDK/Rb/E2F pathway were determined using qRT-PCR and western blotting. Cell proliferation ability and cell cycle were assessed by MTS assay and flow cytometric analysis. The effect of PCK1 on tumor growth was examined in xenograft implantation models. Results Both gain and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated that PCK1 deficiency promotes hepatoma cell proliferation through inactivation of AMPK, suppression of p27Kip1 expression, and stimulation of the CDK/Rb/E2F pathway, thereby accelerating cell cycle transition from the G1 to S phase under glucose-starved conditions. Overexpression of PCK1 reduced cellular ATP levels and enhanced AMPK phosphorylation and p27Kip1 expression but decreased Rb phosphorylation, leading to cell cycle arrest at G1. AMPK knockdown significantly reversed G1-phase arrest and growth inhibition of PCK1-expressing SK-Hep1 cells. In addition, the AMPK activator metformin remarkably suppressed the growth of PCK1-knockout PLC/PRF/5 cells and inhibited tumor growth in an orthotropic HCC mouse model. Conclusion This study revealed that PCK1 negatively regulates cell cycle progression and hepatoma cell proliferation via the AMPK/p27Kip1 axis and supports a potential therapeutic and protective effect of metformin on HCC. |
topic |
Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 Hepatocellular carcinoma Cell cycle arrest CDK/Rb/E2F pathway AMP-activated protein kinase |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13046-019-1029-y |
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doaj-098f549e562440f1980394c9d9c3365b2020-11-25T02:27:39ZengBMCJournal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research1756-99662019-02-0138111610.1186/s13046-019-1029-yPCK1 negatively regulates cell cycle progression and hepatoma cell proliferation via the AMPK/p27Kip1 axisLin Tuo0Jin Xiang1Xuanming Pan2Jieli Hu3Hua Tang4Li Liang5Jie Xia6Yuan Hu7Wenlu Zhang8Ailong Huang9Kai Wang10Ni Tang11Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityAbstract Background Altered glucose metabolism endows tumor cells with metabolic flexibility for biosynthesis requirements. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1), a key enzyme in the gluconeogenesis pathway, is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and predicts poor prognosis. Overexpression of PCK1 has been shown to suppress liver tumor growth, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Methods mRNA and protein expression patterns of PCK1, AMPK, pAMPK, and the CDK/Rb/E2F pathway were determined using qRT-PCR and western blotting. Cell proliferation ability and cell cycle were assessed by MTS assay and flow cytometric analysis. The effect of PCK1 on tumor growth was examined in xenograft implantation models. Results Both gain and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated that PCK1 deficiency promotes hepatoma cell proliferation through inactivation of AMPK, suppression of p27Kip1 expression, and stimulation of the CDK/Rb/E2F pathway, thereby accelerating cell cycle transition from the G1 to S phase under glucose-starved conditions. Overexpression of PCK1 reduced cellular ATP levels and enhanced AMPK phosphorylation and p27Kip1 expression but decreased Rb phosphorylation, leading to cell cycle arrest at G1. AMPK knockdown significantly reversed G1-phase arrest and growth inhibition of PCK1-expressing SK-Hep1 cells. In addition, the AMPK activator metformin remarkably suppressed the growth of PCK1-knockout PLC/PRF/5 cells and inhibited tumor growth in an orthotropic HCC mouse model. Conclusion This study revealed that PCK1 negatively regulates cell cycle progression and hepatoma cell proliferation via the AMPK/p27Kip1 axis and supports a potential therapeutic and protective effect of metformin on HCC.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13046-019-1029-yPhosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1Hepatocellular carcinomaCell cycle arrestCDK/Rb/E2F pathwayAMP-activated protein kinase |