Metabolic reprogramming induced by fructose promotes therapy´s failure in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Introduction and Objectives: Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer cells. Fructose metabolism is decreased in liver cancer cells to counteract the oxidative environment induced by fructose. Ketohexokinase (KHK) A is overexpressed, and its switch confers advantages to cancer cells. The obje...

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Main Authors: Lisette Chávez-Rodríguez, Oscar A. Escobedo Calvario, Johann Matschke, Verena Jendrossek, Felipe Masso, Araceli Páez Arenas, María C. Gutiérrez-Ruíz, Luis E. Gomez-Quiroz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Annals of Hepatology
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1665268125000808
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author Lisette Chávez-Rodríguez
Oscar A. Escobedo Calvario
Johann Matschke
Verena Jendrossek
Felipe Masso
Araceli Páez Arenas
María C. Gutiérrez-Ruíz
Luis E. Gomez-Quiroz
author_facet Lisette Chávez-Rodríguez
Oscar A. Escobedo Calvario
Johann Matschke
Verena Jendrossek
Felipe Masso
Araceli Páez Arenas
María C. Gutiérrez-Ruíz
Luis E. Gomez-Quiroz
author_sort Lisette Chávez-Rodríguez
collection DOAJ
description Introduction and Objectives: Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer cells. Fructose metabolism is decreased in liver cancer cells to counteract the oxidative environment induced by fructose. Ketohexokinase (KHK) A is overexpressed, and its switch confers advantages to cancer cells. The objective was to investigate the effect of fructose metabolism on the aggressiveness of liver cancer cells. Materials and Patients: KHK isoform expression was measured by qRT-PCR in Huh-7 and HepG2 cells. Metabolic characteristics of liver cancer cells (Huh-7 and HepG2) treated with a fructose (1mM) for 48h in a high glucose DMEM media (11mM) was developed using Mito Fuel Flex assay and Glycolysis Rate Assay using SeaHorse technology. To prove the hypothesis that fructose metabolism enhances aggressiveness, we performed proliferation and enzymatic assays. Chemoresistance assays (in vitro and in vivo) was developed using Huh-7 cells previously treated with Fructose (1mM) for 72h. Then, we applied Fructose (1mM), Cisplatin (CDDP, 22,11µM for in vitro assays or 100µM for in vivo assays) or Fructose (1mM) + CDDP (22,11µM for in vitro or 100µM for in vivo) for 48h. Results: Huh-7 cells expressed higher levels of khk-a compared to HepG2 cells. The isoform switch was associated with improved fructose uptake and higher proliferation in Huh-7 cells. We did not detect differences in mitochondrial glucose or fatty acid oxidation capacity, but glutamine oxidation capacity was lower in Huh-7, indicating the overall dependence of this cell line on the glutamine pathway. However, we only detected differences with fructose-treated (Fru-treated) cells with less dependence on fatty acid oxidation in hepatoma cells, suggesting that fructose metabolism has a different effect with respect to the differentiation level of the cells. Next, we evaluated the glycolytic pathway in the aggressive cell line (Huh-7), and the analysis showed that Fru-treated cells contributed less to media acidification, suggesting the activation of alternative pathways by fructose. The pentose phosphate pathway was affected by fructose and inhibition of glutathione reductase abolished the benefits gained. We then assessed survival to CDDP treatment, and found that both, in vitro and in vivo, fructose treatment improved survival and resistance to CDDP therapy. Conclusions: Fructose promotes a metabolic remodeling leading to the sustained proliferation of liver cancer cells. Specifically, fructose metabolism promotes alternative metabolic pathways that contribute to the aggressiveness of HCC cells. In addition, fructose may increase cancer cell survival and the treatment failure.
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spelling doaj-art-b9707b5299a6417ea734a8eede7bdb062025-08-20T02:13:48ZengElsevierAnnals of Hepatology1665-26812025-04-013010185610.1016/j.aohep.2025.101856Metabolic reprogramming induced by fructose promotes therapy´s failure in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.Lisette Chávez-Rodríguez0Oscar A. Escobedo Calvario1Johann Matschke2Verena Jendrossek3Felipe Masso4Araceli Páez Arenas5María C. Gutiérrez-Ruíz6Luis E. Gomez-Quiroz7Graduate Program in Experimental Biology, DCBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad-Iztapalapa, Mexico; Area of Experimental and Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, MexicoGraduate Program in Experimental Biology, DCBS, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad-Iztapalapa, Mexico; Area of Experimental and Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, MexicoInstitute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, Virchowstrasse 173, D-45122, Essen, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Essen a partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital, Essen, GermanyInstitute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, Virchowstrasse 173, D-45122, Essen, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Essen a partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital, Essen, GermanyTranslational Cardiology laboratory, Translational medicine unit, IIB, National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, MexicoTranslational Cardiology laboratory, Translational medicine unit, IIB, National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, MexicoArea of Experimental and Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico; Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Translational Medicine Unit, IIB/UNAM, National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, MexicoArea of Experimental and Translational Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Mexico; Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Translational Medicine Unit, IIB/UNAM, National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, MexicoIntroduction and Objectives: Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer cells. Fructose metabolism is decreased in liver cancer cells to counteract the oxidative environment induced by fructose. Ketohexokinase (KHK) A is overexpressed, and its switch confers advantages to cancer cells. The objective was to investigate the effect of fructose metabolism on the aggressiveness of liver cancer cells. Materials and Patients: KHK isoform expression was measured by qRT-PCR in Huh-7 and HepG2 cells. Metabolic characteristics of liver cancer cells (Huh-7 and HepG2) treated with a fructose (1mM) for 48h in a high glucose DMEM media (11mM) was developed using Mito Fuel Flex assay and Glycolysis Rate Assay using SeaHorse technology. To prove the hypothesis that fructose metabolism enhances aggressiveness, we performed proliferation and enzymatic assays. Chemoresistance assays (in vitro and in vivo) was developed using Huh-7 cells previously treated with Fructose (1mM) for 72h. Then, we applied Fructose (1mM), Cisplatin (CDDP, 22,11µM for in vitro assays or 100µM for in vivo assays) or Fructose (1mM) + CDDP (22,11µM for in vitro or 100µM for in vivo) for 48h. Results: Huh-7 cells expressed higher levels of khk-a compared to HepG2 cells. The isoform switch was associated with improved fructose uptake and higher proliferation in Huh-7 cells. We did not detect differences in mitochondrial glucose or fatty acid oxidation capacity, but glutamine oxidation capacity was lower in Huh-7, indicating the overall dependence of this cell line on the glutamine pathway. However, we only detected differences with fructose-treated (Fru-treated) cells with less dependence on fatty acid oxidation in hepatoma cells, suggesting that fructose metabolism has a different effect with respect to the differentiation level of the cells. Next, we evaluated the glycolytic pathway in the aggressive cell line (Huh-7), and the analysis showed that Fru-treated cells contributed less to media acidification, suggesting the activation of alternative pathways by fructose. The pentose phosphate pathway was affected by fructose and inhibition of glutathione reductase abolished the benefits gained. We then assessed survival to CDDP treatment, and found that both, in vitro and in vivo, fructose treatment improved survival and resistance to CDDP therapy. Conclusions: Fructose promotes a metabolic remodeling leading to the sustained proliferation of liver cancer cells. Specifically, fructose metabolism promotes alternative metabolic pathways that contribute to the aggressiveness of HCC cells. In addition, fructose may increase cancer cell survival and the treatment failure.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1665268125000808
spellingShingle Lisette Chávez-Rodríguez
Oscar A. Escobedo Calvario
Johann Matschke
Verena Jendrossek
Felipe Masso
Araceli Páez Arenas
María C. Gutiérrez-Ruíz
Luis E. Gomez-Quiroz
Metabolic reprogramming induced by fructose promotes therapy´s failure in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
Annals of Hepatology
title Metabolic reprogramming induced by fructose promotes therapy´s failure in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
title_full Metabolic reprogramming induced by fructose promotes therapy´s failure in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
title_fullStr Metabolic reprogramming induced by fructose promotes therapy´s failure in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
title_full_unstemmed Metabolic reprogramming induced by fructose promotes therapy´s failure in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
title_short Metabolic reprogramming induced by fructose promotes therapy´s failure in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
title_sort metabolic reprogramming induced by fructose promotes therapy´s failure in liver cancer cells in vitro and in vivo
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1665268125000808
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