Deletion of the gene Pip4k2c, a novel phosphatidylinositol kinase, results in hyperactivation of the immune system.

Type 2 phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate 4-kinase (PI5P4K) converts phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate to phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate. Mammals have three enzymes PI5P4Kα, PI5P4Kß, and PI5P4Kγ, and these enzymes have been implicated in metabolic control, growth control, and a variety of stress responses. Here, we show that mice with germline deletion of type 2 phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate 4-kinase gamma (Pip4k2c), the gene encoding PI5P4Kγ, appear normal in regard to growth and viability but have increased inflammation and T-cell activation as they age. Immune cell infiltrates increased in Pip4k2c(-/-) mouse tissues. Also, there was an increase in proinflammatory cytokines, including IFNγ, interleukin 12, and interleukin 2 in plasma of Pip4k2c(-/-) mice. Pip4k2c(-/-) mice had an increase in T-helper-cell populations and a decrease in regulatory T-cell populations with increased proliferation of T cells. Interestingly, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling was hyperactivated in several tissues from Pip4k2c(-/-) mice and treating Pip4k2c(-/-) mice with rapamycin reduced the inflammatory phenotype, resulting in a decrease in mTORC1 signaling in tissues and a decrease in proinflammatory cytokines in plasma. These results indicate that PI5P4Kγ plays a role in the regulation of the immune system via mTORC1 signaling.

AKT activation because of PTEN loss upregulates xCT via GSK3ß/NRF2, leading to inhibition of ferroptosis in PTEN-mutant tumor cells.

Here, we show that the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN) sensitizes cells to ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, by restraining the expression and activity of the cystine/glutamate antiporter system Xc- (xCT). Loss of PTEN activates AKT kinase to inhibit GSK3ß, increasing NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (NRF2) along with transcription of one of its known target genes encoding xCT. Elevated xCT in Pten-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts increases the flux of cystine transport and synthesis of glutathione, which enhances the steady-state levels of these metabolites. A pan-cancer analysis finds that loss of PTEN shows evidence of increased xCT, and PTEN-mutant cells are resistant to ferroptosis as a consequence of elevated xCT. These findings suggest that selection of PTEN mutation during tumor development may be due to its ability to confer resistance to ferroptosis in the setting of metabolic and oxidative stress that occurs during tumor initiation and progression.

A local tumor microenvironment acquired super-enhancer induces an oncogenic driver in colorectal carcinoma.

Tumors exhibit enhancer reprogramming compared to normal tissue. The etiology is largely attributed to cell-intrinsic genomic alterations. Here, using freshly resected primary CRC tumors and patient-matched adjacent normal colon, we find divergent epigenetic landscapes between CRC tumors and cell lines. Intriguingly, this phenomenon extends to highly recurrent aberrant super-enhancers gained in CRC over normal. We find one such super-enhancer activated in epithelial cancer cells due to surrounding inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. We restore this super-enhancer and its expressed gene, PDZK1IP1, following treatment with cytokines or xenotransplantation into nude mice, thus demonstrating cell-extrinsic etiology. We demonstrate mechanistically that PDZK1IP1 enhances the reductive capacity CRC cancer cells via the pentose phosphate pathway. We show this activation enables efficient growth under oxidative conditions, challenging the previous notion that PDZK1IP1 acts as a tumor suppressor in CRC. Collectively, these observations highlight the significance of epigenomic profiling on primary specimens.

High-fructose corn syrup enhances intestinal tumor growth in mice.

Excessive consumption of beverages sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is associated with obesity and with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Whether HFCS contributes directly to tumorigenesis is unclear. We investigated the effects of daily oral administration of HFCS in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) mutant mice, which are predisposed to develop intestinal tumors. The HFCS-treated mice showed a substantial increase in tumor size and tumor grade in the absence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. HFCS increased the concentrations of fructose and glucose in the intestinal lumen and serum, respectively, and the tumors transported both sugars. Within the tumors, fructose was converted to fructose-1-phosphate, leading to activation of glycolysis and increased synthesis of fatty acids that support tumor growth. These mouse studies support the hypothesis that the combination of dietary glucose and fructose, even at a moderate dose, can enhance tumorigenesis.

Vitamin C selectively kills KRAS and BRAF mutant colorectal cancer cells by targeting GAPDH.

More than half of human colorectal cancers (CRCs) carry either KRAS or BRAF mutations and are often refractory to approved targeted therapies. We found that cultured human CRC cells harboring KRAS or BRAF mutations are selectively killed when exposed to high levels of vitamin C. This effect is due to increased uptake of the oxidized form of vitamin C, dehydroascorbate (DHA), via the GLUT1 glucose transporter. Increased DHA uptake causes oxidative stress as intracellular DHA is reduced to vitamin C, depleting glutathione. Thus, reactive oxygen species accumulate and inactivate glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Inhibition of GAPDH in highly glycolytic KRAS or BRAF mutant cells leads to an energetic crisis and cell death not seen in KRAS and BRAF wild-type cells. High-dose vitamin C impairs tumor growth in Apc/Kras(G12D) mutant mice. These results provide a mechanistic rationale for exploring the therapeutic use of vitamin C for CRCs with KRAS or BRAF mutations.