FPR3 reprograms glycolytic metabolism and stemness in gastric cancer via calcium-NFATc1 pathway

• Published in: Cancer letters Vol. 593; p. 216841
• Main Authors: Wang, Lingzhi, Mao, Xinyuan, Yu, Xiang, Su, Jin, Li, Zhenyuan, Chen, Zhian, Ren, Yingxin, Huang, Huilin, Wang, Weisheng, Zhao, Cuiyin, Hu, Yanfeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.07.2024
• Subjects: FPR3; Metabolic reprogramming; NFATc1; Stemness; Stemness; FPR3; NFATc1; Metabolic reprogramming
• ISSN: 0304-3835; 1872-7980; 1872-7980
• DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216841

Aerobic glycolysis accelerates tumor proliferation and progression, and inhibitors or drugs targeting abnormal cancer metabolism have been developing. Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) significantly contribute to tumor initiation, metastasis, therapy resistance, and recurrence. Formyl peptide receptor 3 (FPR3), a member of FPR family, involves in inflammation, tissue repair, and angiogenesis. However, studies in exploring the regulatory mechanisms of aerobic glycolysis and CSCs by FPR3 in gastric cancer (GC) remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated that overexpressed FPR3 suppressed glycolytic capacity and stemness of tumor cells, then inhibited GC cells proliferation. Mechanistically, FPR3 impeded cytoplasmic calcium ion flux and hindered nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) nuclear translocation, leading to the transcriptional inactivation of NFATc1-binding neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 3 (NOTCH3) promoter, subsequently obstructing NOTCH3 expression and the AKT/mTORC1 signaling pathway, and ultimately downregulating glycolysis. Additionally, NFATc1 directly binds to the sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) promoter and modifies stemness in GC. In conclusion, our work illustrated that FPR3 played a negative role in GC progression by modulating NFATc1-mediated glycolysis and stemness in a calcium-dependent manner, providing potential insights into cancer therapy. •FPR3 served as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer.•FPR3 reprograms glycolysis and stemness in GC.•FPR3 influences cytoplasmic calcium ion and downstream NFATc1 activity.•NFATc1 bound to NOTCH3 promoter to modulate AKT/mTORC1 pathway.•FPR3 interferes with cancer stemness via NOTCH3 and SOX2.