Epigenetic loss of AOX1 expression via EZH2 leads to metabolic deregulations and promotes bladder cancer progression

Oncogene. 2020 Oct;39(40):6265-6285. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-0902-7. Epub 2019 Aug 5.

Abstract

Advanced Bladder Cancer (BLCA) remains a clinical challenge that lacks effective therapeutic measures. Here, we show that distinct, stage-wise metabolic alterations in BLCA are associated with the loss of function of aldehyde oxidase (AOX1). AOX1 associated metabolites have a high predictive value for advanced BLCA and our findings demonstrate that AOX1 is epigenetically silenced during BLCA progression by the methyltransferase activity of EZH2. Knockdown (KD) of AOX1 in normal bladder epithelial cells re-wires the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway resulting in elevated NADP levels which may increase metabolic flux through the pentose phosphate (PPP) pathway, enabling increased nucleotide synthesis, and promoting cell invasion. Inhibition of NADP synthesis rescues the metabolic effects of AOX1 KD. Ectopic AOX1 expression decreases NADP production, PPP flux and nucleotide synthesis, while decreasing invasion in cell line models and suppressing growth in tumor xenografts. Further gain and loss of AOX1 confirm the EZH2-dependent activation, metabolic deregulation, and tumor growth in BLCA. Our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of AOX1 and provide a basis for the development of prognostic markers for advanced BLCA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aldehyde Oxidase / genetics*
  • Aldehyde Oxidase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Progression
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Kynurenine / metabolism
  • Male
  • Metabolomics
  • Mice
  • NADP / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Nucleotides / biosynthesis
  • Pentose Phosphate Pathway / genetics
  • RNA-Seq
  • Tissue Array Analysis
  • Tryptophan / metabolism
  • Urinary Bladder / pathology*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Nucleotides
  • Kynurenine
  • NADP
  • Tryptophan
  • AOX1 protein, human
  • Aldehyde Oxidase
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein