Glutaminase-1 inhibition alleviates senescence of Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells via senolysis.

Replicative senescence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) caused by repeated cell culture undermines their potential as a cell therapy because of the reduction in their proliferation and therapeutic potential. Glutaminase-1 (GLS1) is reported to be involved in the survival of senescent cells, and inhibition of GLS1 alleviates age-related dysfunction via senescent cell removal. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the association between MSC senescence and GLS1. We conducted in vitro and in vivo experiments to analyze the effect of GLS1 inhibition on senolysis and the therapeutic effects of MSCs. Inhibition of GLS1 in Wharton's jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) reduced the expression of aging-related markers, such as p16, p21, and senescence-associated secretory phenotype genes, by senolysis. Replicative senescence-alleviated WJ-MSCs, which recovered after short-term treatment with bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide 3 (BPTES), showed increased proliferation and therapeutic effects compared to those observed with senescent WJ-MSCs. Moreover, compared to senescent WJ-MSCs, replicative senescence-alleviated WJ-MSCs inhibited apoptosis in serum-starved C2C12 cells, enhanced muscle formation, and hindered apoptosis and fibrosis in mdx mice. These results imply that GLS1 inhibition can ameliorate the therapeutic effects of senescent WJ-MSCs in patients with muscle diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In conclusion, GLS1 is a key factor in modulating the senescence mechanism of MSCs, and regulation of GLS1 may enhance the therapeutic effects of senescent MSCs, thereby increasing the success rate of clinical trials involving MSCs.

Biomimetic liposome amplifying mitochondrial damage to potential cancer radio-immunotherapy.

Radiotherapy, despite its precision and non-invasiveness, often fails due to the resistance of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are characterized by high self-renewal capabilities and superior DNA repair mechanisms. These cells can evade RT and lead to tumor recurrence and metastasis. To address this challenge, a novel delivery system named PB has been introduced. This system combines liposomes with platelet membranes to encapsulate Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide (BPTES), thus enhancing its delivery and release specifically at tumor sites. In addition, this system not only targets CSCs effectively but also increases the local concentration of BPTES upon X-ray irradiation, which reduces glutathione levels in tumor cells, thereby increasing oxidative stress and damaging mitochondria. PB-elicited mitochondrial damage as the STING signal initiator, which mediated significant upregulation in the expression of a cGAS-STING pathway-related protein thereby amplifying the STING signal. Systemic intravenous administration of PB remarkably promoted DC maturation and CD8+ T cell infiltration, thus eliciting strong antitumor effects. Overall, this PB system presents a potent method to overcome CSC-related resistance and offers a promising approach for future cancer treatment protocols.

The Glutaminase-1 Inhibitor [11C-carbony]BPTES: Synthesis and Positron Emission Tomography Study in Mice.

Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES) is a selective inhibitor of glutaminase-1 (GLS1), consequently inhibiting glutaminolysis. BPTES is known for its potent antitumor activity and plays a significant role in senescent cell removal. In this study, we synthesized [11C-carbonyl]BPTES ([11C]BPTES) as a positron emission tomography (PET) probe for the first time and assessed its biodistribution in mice using PET. [11C]BPTES was synthesized by the reaction of an amine precursor () with [11C-carbonyl]phenylacetyl acid anhydride ([11C]2), which was prepared from [11C]CO2 and benzyl magnesium chloride, followed by in situ treatment with isobutyl chloroformate. The decay-corrected isolated radiochemical yield of [11C]BPTES was 9.5% (based on [11C]CO2) during a synthesis time of 40 min. A PET study with [11C]BPTES showed high uptake levels of radioactivity in the liver, kidney, and small intestine of mice.

A photodynamic-mediated glutamine metabolic intervention nanodrug for triple negative breast cancer therapy.

"Glutamine addiction" is a unique feature of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), which has a higher demand for glutamine and is more susceptible to glutamine depletion. Glutamine can be hydrolyzed to glutamate by glutaminase (GLS) for synthesis of glutathione (GSH), which is an important downstream of glutamine metabolic pathways in accelerating TNBC proliferation. Consequently, glutamine metabolic intervention suggests potential therapeutic effects against TNBC. However, the effects of GLS inhibitors are hindered by glutamine resistance and their own instability and insolubility. Therefore, it is of great interest to harmonize glutamine metabolic intervention for an amplified TNBC therapy. Unfortunately, such nanoplatform has not been realized. Herein, we reported a self-assembly nanoplatform (BCH NPs) with a core of the GLS inhibitor Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide (BPTES) and photosensitizer Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and a shell of human serum albumin (HSA), enabling effective harmonization of glutamine metabolic intervention for TNBC therapy. BPTES inhibited the activity of GLS to block the glutamine metabolic pathways, thereby inhibiting the production of GSH to amplify the photodynamic effect of Ce6. While Ce6 not only directly killed tumor cells by producing excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), but also deplete GSH to destroy redox balance, thus enhancing the effects of BPTES when glutamine resistance occurred. BCH NPs effectively eradicated TNBC tumor and suppressed tumor metastasis with favorable biocompatibility. Our work provides a new insight for photodynamic-mediated glutamine metabolic intervention against TNBC.

Serial Room Temperature Crystal Loading, Data Collection, and Data Processing of Human Glutaminase C in Complex with Allosteric Inhibitors.

Cancer cells often overexpress glutaminase enzymes, in particular glutaminase C (GAC). GAC resides in the mitochondria and catalyzes the hydrolysis of glutamine to glutamate. High levels of GAC have been observed in aggressive cancers and the inhibition of its enzymatic activity has been shown to reduce their growth and survival. Numerous GAC inhibitors have been reported, the most heavily investigated being a class of compounds derived from the small molecule BPTES (bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide). X-ray structure determination under cryo-cooled conditions showed that the binding contacts for the different inhibitors were largely conserved despite their varying potencies. However, using the emerging technique serial room temperature crystallography, we were able to observe clear differences between the binding conformations of inhibitors. Here, we describe a step-by-step protocol for crystal handling, data collection, and data processing of GAC in complex with allosteric inhibitors using serial room temperature crystallography. Graphical abstract: Figure 1. Workflow for serial room temperature crystallography. Diagram showing the processing and scaling routine for crystals analyzed using serial room temperature crystallography.

Novel allosteric glutaminase 1 inhibitors with macrocyclic structure activity relationship analysis.

Glutamine-addicted cancer metabolism is recently recognized as novel cancer target especially for KRAS and KEAP1 co-occurring mutations. Selective glutaminase1 (GLS1) inhibition was reported using BPTES which has novel mode of allosteric inhibition. However, BPTES is a highly hydrophobic and symmetric molecule with very poor solubility which results in suboptimal pharmacokinetic parameters and hinders its further development. As an ongoing effort to identify more drug-like GLS1 inhibitors via systematic structure - activity relationship (SAR) analysis of BPTES analogs, we disclose our novel macrocycles for GLS1 inhibition with conclusive SAR analysis on the core, core linker, and wing linker, respectively. Selected molecules resulted in reduction in intracellular glutamate levels in LR (LDK378-resistant) cells which is consistent to cell viability result. Finally, compounds 13 selectively reduced the growth of A549 and H460 cells which have co-occurring mutations including KRAS and KEAP1.

Endogenous glutamine is rate-limiting for anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 induced CD4+ T-cell proliferation and glycolytic activity under hypoxia and normoxia.

To meet the demand for energy and biomass, T lymphocytes (T cells) activated to proliferation and clonal expansion, require uptake and metabolism of glucose (Gluc) and the amino acid (AA) glutamine (Gln). Whereas exogenous Gln is converted to glutamate (Glu) by glutaminase (GLS), Gln is also synthesized from the endogenous pool of AA through Glu and activity of glutamine synthase (GS). Most of this knowledge comes from studies on cell cultures under ambient oxygen conditions (normoxia, 21% O2). However, in vivo, antigen induced T-cell activation often occurs under moderately hypoxic (1-4% O2) conditions and at various levels of exogenous nutrients. Here, CD4+ T cells were stimulated for 72 h with antibodies targeting the CD3 and CD28 markers at normoxia and hypoxia (1% O2). This was done in the presence and absence of the GLS and GS inhibitors, Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide (BPTES) and methionine sulfoximine (MSO) and at various combinations of exogenous Gluc, Gln and pyruvate (Pyr) for the last 12 h of stimulation. We found that T-cell proliferation, viability and levels of endogenous AA were significantly influenced by the availability of exogenous Gln, Gluc and Pyr as well as inhibition of GLS and GS. Moreover, inhibition of GLS and GS and levels of oxygen differentially influenced oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). Finally, BPTES-dependent down-regulation of ECAR was associated with reduced hexokinase (HK) activity at both normoxia and hypoxia. Our results demonstrate that Gln availability and metabolism is rate-limiting for CD4+ T-cell activity.

Identification and characterization of a novel glutaminase inhibitor.

In humans, there are two forms of glutaminase (GLS), designated GLS1 and GLS2. These enzymes catalyse the conversion of glutamine to glutamate. GLS1 exists as two isozymes: kidney glutaminase (KGA) and glutaminase C (GAC). Several GLS inhibitors have been identified, of which DON (6-diazo-5-oxonorleucine), BPTES (bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1, 3, 4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulphide), 968 (5-(3-Bromo-4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydrobenzo[a]phenanthridin-4(1H)-one) and CB839 (Telaglenastat) are the most widely used. However, these inhibitors have variable efficacy, specificity and bioavailability in research and clinical settings, implying the need for novel and improved GLS inhibitors. Based on this need, a diverse library of 28,000 compounds from Enamine was screened for inhibition of recombinant, purified GAC. From this library, one inhibitor designated compound 19 (C19) was identified with kinetic features revealing allosteric inhibition of GAC in the µm range. Moreover, C19 inhibits anti-CD3/CD28-induced CD4+ T-cell proliferation and cytokine production with similar or greater potency as compared to BPTES. Taken together, our data suggest that C19 has the potential to modulate GLS1 activity and alter metabolic activity of T cells.

Nrf2 Activation Sensitizes K-Ras Mutant Pancreatic Cancer Cells to Glutaminase Inhibition.

Pancreatic cancer remains intractable owing to the lack of effective therapy for unresectable cases. Activating mutations of K-ras are frequently found in pancreatic cancers, but these have not yet been targeted by cancer therapies. The Keap1-Nrf2 system plays a crucial role in mediating the oxidative stress response, which also contributes to cancer progression. Nrf2 activation reprograms the metabolic profile to promote the proliferation of cancer cells. A recent report suggested that K-ras- and Nrf2-active lung cancer cells are sensitive to glutamine depletion. This finding led to the recognition of glutaminase inhibitors as novel anticancer agents. In the current study, we used murine pancreatic cancer tissues driven by mutant K-ras and p53 to establish cell lines expressing constitutively activated Nrf2. Genetic or pharmacological Nrf2 activation in cells via Keap1 deletion or Nrf2 activation sensitized cells to glutaminase inhibition. This phenomenon was confirmed to be dependent on K-ras activation in human pancreatic cancer cell lines harboring mutant K-ras, i.e., Panc-1 and MiaPaCa-2 in response to DEM pretreatment. This phenomenon was not observed in BxPC3 cells harboring wildtype K-ras. These results indicate the possibility of employing Nrf2 activation and glutaminase inhibition as novel therapeutic interventions for K-ras mutant pancreatic cancers.

Glutaminolysis is a metabolic route essential for survival and growth of prostate cancer cells and a target of 5α-dihydrotestosterone regulation.

PURPOSE: Resistance to androgen-deprivation therapies and progression to so-called castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remain challenges in prostate cancer (PCa) management and treatment. Among other alterations, CRPC has been associated with metabolic reprogramming driven by androgens. Here, we investigated the role of androgens in regulating glutaminolysis in PCa cells and determined the relevance of this metabolic route in controlling the survival and growth of androgen-sensitive (LNCaP) and CRPC (DU145 and PC3) cells. METHODS: PCa cells (LNCaP, DU145 and PC3) and 3-month old rats were treated with 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Alternatively, LNCaP cells were exposed to the glutaminase inhibitor BPTES, alone or in combination with the anti-androgen bicalutamide. Biochemical, Western blot and extracellular flux assays were used to evaluate the viability, proliferation, migration and metabolism of PCa cells in response to DHT treatment or glutaminase inhibition. RESULTS: We found that DHT up-regulated the expression of the glutamine transporter ASCT2 and glutaminase, both in vitro in LNCaP cells and in vivo in rat prostate cells. BPTES diminished the viability and migration of PCa cells, while increasing caspase-3 activity. CRPC cells were found to be more dependent on glutamine and more sensitive to glutaminase inhibition. BPTES and bicalutamide co-treatment had an additive effect on suppressing LNCaP cell viability. Finally, we found that inhibition of glutaminolysis differentially affected glycolysis and lipid metabolism in both androgen-sensitive and CRPC cells. CONCLUSION: Our data reveal glutaminolysis as a central metabolic route controlling PCa cell fate and highlight the relevance of targeting glutaminase for CRPC treatment.

Allosteric kidney-type glutaminase (GLS) inhibitors with a mercaptoethyl linker.

A series of allosteric kidney-type glutaminase (GLS) inhibitors possessing a mercaptoethyl (SCH2CH2) linker were synthesized in an effort to further expand the structural diversity of chemotypes derived from bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES), a prototype allosteric inhibitor of GLS. BPTES analog 3a with a mercaptoethyl linker between the two thiadiazole rings was found to potently inhibit GLS with an IC50 value of 50 nM. Interestingly, the corresponding derivative with an n-propyl (CH2CH2CH2) linker showed substantially lower inhibitory potency (IC50 = 2.3 µM) while the derivative with a dimethylsulfide (CH2SCH2) linker showed no inhibitory activity at concentrations up to 100 µM, underscoring the critical role played by the mercaptoethyl linker in the high affinity binding to the allosteric site of GLS. Additional mercaptoethyl-linked compounds were synthesized and tested as GLS inhibitors to further explore SAR within this scaffold including derivatives possessing a pyridazine as a replacement for one of the two thiadiazole moiety.

Targeting Endothelial Cell Metabolism by Inhibition of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase and Glutaminase-1.

Targeting endothelial cell (EC) metabolism should impair angiogenesis, regardless of how many angiogenic signals are present. The dependency of proliferating ECs on glucose and glutamine for energy and biomass production opens new opportunities for anti-angiogenic therapy in cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) inhibition with dichloroacetate (DCA), alone or in combination with the glutaminase-1 (GLS-1) inhibitor, Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide (BPTES), on Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and vessel formation. We demonstrated that both drugs normalize HUVECs metabolism by decreasing glycolysis for DCA and by reducing glutamate production for BPTES. DCA and BPTES reduced HUVECs proliferation and migration but have no impact on tube formation. While DCA increased HUVECs respiration, BPTES decreased it. Using both drugs in combination further reduced HUVECs proliferation while normalizing respiration and apoptosis induction. Overall, we demonstrated that DCA, a metabolic drug under study to target cancer cells metabolism, also affects tumor angiogenesis. Combining DCA and BPTES may reduce adverse effect of each drug alone and favor tumor angiogenesis normalization.

BPTES inhibits anthrax lethal toxin-induced inflammatory response.

Bacillus anthracis is a lethal agent of anthrax disease and the toxins are required in anthrax pathogenesis. The anthrax lethal toxin can trigger NLRP1b inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. Although the underlying mechanism is well understood, the medications targeting the NLRP1b inflammasome are not available in the clinic. Herein, we describe that BPTES, a known Glutaminase (GLS) inhibitor, is an effective NLRP1b inflammasome inhibitor. BPTES could effectively and specifically suppress NLRP1b inflammasome activation in macrophages but have no effects on NLRP3, NLRC4 and AIM2 inflammasome activation. Mechanistically, BPTES alleviated the UBR2 mediated proteasomal degradation pathway of the NLRP1b N terminus, thus blocking the release of the CARD domain for subsequent caspase-1 processing. Furthermore, BPTES could prevent disease progression in mice challenged with the anthrax lethal toxin. Taken together, our studies indicate that BPTES can be a promising pharmacological inhibitor to treat anthrax lethal toxin-related inflammatory diseases.

Inhibition of glutaminase to reverse fibrosis in iatrogenic laryngotracheal stenosis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Glutamine metabolism is a critical energy source for iatrogenic laryngotracheal stenosis (iLTS) scar fibroblasts, and glutaminase (GLS) is an essential enzyme converting glutamine to glutamate. We hypothesize that the GLS-specific inhibitor BPTES will block glutaminolysis and reduce iLTS scar fibroblast proliferation, collagen deposition, and fibroblast metabolism in vitro. STUDY DESIGN: Test-tube Lab Research. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry of a cricotracheal resection (n = 1) and a normal airway specimen (n = 1) were assessed for GLS expression. GLS expression was assessed in brush biopsies of subglottic/tracheal fibrosis and normal airway from patients with iLTS (n = 6). Fibroblasts were isolated and cultured from biopsies of subglottic/tracheal fibrosis (n = 6). Fibroblast were treated with BPTES and BPTES + dimethyl α-ketoglutarate (DMK), an analogue of the downstream product of GLS. Fibroblast proliferation, gene expression, protein production, and metabolism were assessed in all treatment conditions and compared to control. RESULTS: GLS was overexpressed in brush biopsies of iLTS scar specimens (P = .029) compared to normal controls. In vitro, BPTES inhibited iLTS scar fibroblast proliferation (P = .007), collagen I (Col I) (P < .0001), collagen III (P = .004), and α-smooth muscle actin (P = .0025) gene expression and protein production (P = .031). Metabolic analysis demonstrated that BPTES reduced glycolytic reserve (P = .007) but had no effects on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. DMK rescued BPTES inhibition of Col I gene expression (P = .0018) and protein production (P = .021). CONCLUSIONS: GLS is overexpressed in iLTS scar. Blockage of GLS with BPTES significantly inhibits iLTS scar fibroblasts proliferation and function, demonstrating a critical role for GLS in iLTS. Targeting GLS to inhibit glutaminolysis may be a successful strategy to reverse scar formation in the airway. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 2020.

Targeting glutaminase1 and synergizing with clinical drugs achieved more promising antitumor activity on multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) pathogenesis remains incompletely understood and biomarkers predicting treatment response still remain lacking. Here we describe the rational mechanisms of combining targeting glautaminase1 (GLS1) with other chemo-reagents for MM treatment. Gls1 is highly expressed cMYC/KRAS12V-drived plasmacytoma (PCT) cells. Down-regulation of Gls1 with miRNAi in cMYC/KRAS12V-expressing BaF3 cells prevented them from growing independence of interleukin 3 (IL3). By using our cMYC/KRAS12V-transduced adoptive plasmacytoma mouse model, we found that Gls1 is involved in PCT pathogenesis. Down-regulation of Gls1 significantly prolonged the survival of PCT recipients. Knockdown of Gls1 increased the expression of Cdkn1a and Cdkn1b and decreased the expression of some critical oncogenes for cancer cell survival, such as c-Myc, Cdk4, and NfκB, as well as some genes which are essential for MM cell survival, such as Irf4, Prdm1, Csnk1α1, and Rassf5. Combination of Gls1 inhibition with LBH589, Bortezomib, or Lenalidomide significantly impaired tumor growth in a MM xenograft mouse model. Our data strongly suggest that Gls1 plays an important role for MM pathogenesis and that combination of GLS1 inhibitor with other MM therapy agents could benefit to MM patients.

Liver-Type Glutaminase GLS2 Is a Druggable Metabolic Node in Luminal-Subtype Breast Cancer.

Efforts to target glutamine metabolism for cancer therapy have focused on the glutaminase isozyme GLS. The importance of the other isozyme, GLS2, in cancer has remained unclear, and it has been described as a tumor suppressor in some contexts. Here, we report that GLS2 is upregulated and essential in luminal-subtype breast tumors, which account for >70% of breast cancer incidence. We show that GLS2 expression is elevated by GATA3 in luminal-subtype cells but suppressed by promoter methylation in basal-subtype cells. Although luminal breast cancers resist GLS-selective inhibitors, we find that they can be targeted with a dual-GLS/GLS2 inhibitor. These results establish a critical role for GLS2 in mammary tumorigenesis and advance our understanding of how to target glutamine metabolism in cancer.

GAC inhibitors with a 4-hydroxypiperidine spacer: Requirements for potency.

Allosteric inhibitors of glutaminase (GAC), such as BPTES, CB-839 and UPGL00019, have great promise as inhibitors of cancer cell growth, but potent inhibitors with drug-like qualities have been difficult to achieve. Here, a small library of GAC inhibitors based on the UPGL00019 core is described. This set of derivatives was designed to assess if one or both of the phenylacetyl groups flanking the UPGL00019 core can be replaced by smaller simple aliphatic acyl groups without loss in potency. We found that one of the phenylacetyl moieties can be replaced by a set of small aliphatic moieties without loss in potency. We also found that enzymatic potency co-varies with the VDW volume or the maximum projection area of the groups used as replacements of the phenylacetyl moiety and used literature X-ray data to provide an explanation for this finding.

Spontaneous colitis in IL-10-deficient mice was ameliorated via inhibiting glutaminase1.

Immunity imbalance and barrier damage in the intestinal mucosa are the main pathogenic factors of Crohn's disease (CD). Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide (BPTES) is a glutaminase 1 (Gls1) inhibitor with the dual functions of increasing glutamine levels and immune regulation. In this study, we focused on the role of BPTES in CD-like enteritis and the possible mechanisms. We found that Gls1 expression was significantly increased in CD intestinal tissue compared with control tissue. Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide treatment significantly ameliorated chronic colitis in the IL-10-/- , as manifested by decreased disease activity index, body weight change, histological inflammatory degree and inflammatory cytokine expression. Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide treatment exerted protective effects on CD that were associated with the maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity and the Th/Treg balance. Bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide treatment may act in part through TCR-mediated mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signalling activation. In conclusion, inhibition of Gls1 expression attenuated chronic colitis by maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and the Th/Treg balance, thereby ameliorating CD-like colitis.

Glutaminase-1 stimulates the proliferation, migration, and survival of human endothelial cells.

Glutaminase-1 (GLS1) is a mitochondrial enzyme found in endothelial cells (ECs) that metabolizes glutamine to glutamate and ammonia. Although glutaminolysis modulates the function of human umbilical vein ECs, it is not known whether these findings extend to human ECs beyond the fetal circulation. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism by which GLS1 regulates EC function is not defined. In this study, we show that the absence of glutamine in the culture media or the inhibition of GLS1 activity or expression blocked the proliferation and migration of ECs derived from the human umbilical vein, the human aorta, and the human microvasculature. GLS1 inhibition arrested ECs in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and this was associated with a significant decline in cyclin A expression. Restoration of cyclin A expression via adenoviral-mediated gene transfer improved the proliferative, but not the migratory, response of GLS1-inhibited ECs. Glutamine deprivation or GLS1 inhibition also stimulated the production of reactive oxygen species and this was associated with a marked decline in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. GLS1 inhibition also sensitized ECs to the cytotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide and this was prevented by the overexpression of HO-1. In conclusion, the metabolism of glutamine by GLS1 promotes human EC proliferation, migration, and survival irrespective of the vascular source. While cyclin A contributes to the proliferative action of GLS1, HO-1 mediates its pro-survival effect. These results identify GLS1 as a promising therapeutic target in treating diseases associated with aberrant EC proliferation, migration, and viability.

A Metabolomics Study of BPTES Altered Metabolism in Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

The Warburg effect is a well-known phenomenon in cancer, but the glutamine addiction in which cancer cells utilize glutamine as an alternative source of energy is less well known. Recent efforts have focused on preventing cancer cell proliferation associated with glutamine addiction by targeting glutaminase using the inhibitor BPTES (bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide). In the current study, an investigation of the BPTES induced changes in metabolism was made in two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 (an estrogen receptor dependent cell line) and MDA-MB231 (a triple negative cell line), relative to the non-cancerous cell line, MCF10A. NMR spectroscopy combined with a recently established smart-isotope tagging approach enabled quantitative analysis of 41 unique metabolites representing numerous metabolite classes including carbohydrates, amino acids, carboxylic acids and nucleotides. BPTES induced metabolism changes in the cancer cell lines were especially pronounced under hypoxic conditions with up to 1/3 of the metabolites altered significantly (p < 0.05) relative to untreated cells. The BPTES induced changes were more pronounced for MCF7 cells, with 14 metabolites altered significantly (p < 0.05) compared to seven for MDA-MB231. Analyses of the results indicate that BPTES affected numerous metabolic pathways including glycolysis, TCA cycle, nucleotide and amino acid metabolism in cancer. The distinct metabolic responses to BPTES treatment determined in the two breast cancer cell lines offer valuable metabolic information for the exploration of the therapeutic responses to breast cancer.