Switching of Pyruvate Kinase Isoform L to M2 Promotes Metabolic Reprogramming in Hepatocarcinogenesis

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 12; p. e115036
• Main Authors: Wong, Carmen Chak-Lui, Au, Sandy Leung-Kuen, Tse, Aki Pui-Wah, Xu, Iris Ming-Jing, Lai, Robin Kit-Ho, Chiu, David Kung-Chun, Wei, Larry Lai, Fan, Dorothy Ngo-Yin, Tsang, Felice Ho-Ching, Lo, Regina Cheuk-Lam, Wong, Chun-Ming, Ng, Irene Oi-Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 26.12.2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Biology and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - genetics; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Female; Gastric cancer; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes; Glucose; Glycolysis; Hep G2 Cells; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Homeostasis; Humans; Implantation; In vivo methods and tests; Kinases; Laboratories; Liver; Liver cancer; Liver Neoplasms - genetics; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - secondary; Lungs; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Metabolism; Metastases; Metastasis; Mice; Mice, Nude; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miRNA; Molecular modelling; Overexpression; Pathology; Phosphorylation; Prognosis; Pyruvate kinase; Pyruvic acid; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; Stem cells; Stomach cancer; Surgical implants; Thyroid Hormone-Binding Proteins; Thyroid Hormones - genetics; Thyroid Hormones - metabolism; Tumors; Hong Kong China; China
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115036
• ISSN: 1932-6203

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive tumor, with a high mortality rate due to late symptom presentation and frequent tumor recurrences and metastasis. It is also a rapidly growing tumor supported by different metabolic mechanisms; nevertheless, the biological and molecular mechanisms involved in the metabolic reprogramming in HCC are unclear. In this study, we found that pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) was frequently over-expressed in human HCCs and its over-expression was associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and poor prognosis of HCC patients. Furthermore, knockdown of PKM2 suppressed aerobic glycolysis and cell proliferation in HCC cell lines in vitro. Importantly, knockdown of PKM2 hampered HCC growth in both subcutaneous injection and orthotopic liver implantation models, and reduced lung metastasis in vivo. Of significance, PKM2 over-expression in human HCCs was associated with a down-regulation of a liver-specific microRNA, miR-122. We further showed that miR-122 interacted with the 3UTR of the PKM2 gene. Re-expression of miR-122 in HCC cell lines reduced PKM2 expression, decreased glucose uptake in vitro, and suppressed HCC tumor growth in vivo. Our clinical data and functional studies have revealed a novel biological mechanism involved in HCC metabolic reprogramming.