Liver cancer is one of the most common cancer worldwide with a high mortality. Methionine is an essential amino acid required for normal development and cell growth, is mainly metabolized in the liver, and its role as an anti‐cancer supplement is still controversial. Here, we evaluate the effects of methionine supplementation in liver cancer cells. An integrative proteomic and metabolomic analysis indicates a rewiring of the central carbon metabolism, with an upregulation of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in the presence of high methionine and AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibition. Methionine supplementation also reduces growth rate in liver cancer cells and induces the activation of both the AMPK and mTOR pathways. Interestingly, in high methionine concentration, inhibition of AMPK strongly impairs cell growth, cell migration, and colony formation, indicating the main role of AMPK in the control of liver cancer phenotypes. Therefore, regulation of methionine in the diet combined with AMPK inhibition could reduce liver cancer progression.

Tripodi, F., Badone, B., Vescovi, M., Milanesi, R., Nonnis, S., Maffioli, E., et al. (2020). Methionine Supplementation Affects Metabolism and Reduces Tumor Aggressiveness in Liver Cancer Cells. CELLS, 9(11) [10.3390/cells9112491].

Methionine Supplementation Affects Metabolism and Reduces Tumor Aggressiveness in Liver Cancer Cells

Tripodi, Farida
Primo
;
Badone, Beatrice;Milanesi, Riccardo;Bonanomi, Marcella;Gaglio, Daniela;Coccetti, Paola
Ultimo
2020

Abstract

Liver cancer is one of the most common cancer worldwide with a high mortality. Methionine is an essential amino acid required for normal development and cell growth, is mainly metabolized in the liver, and its role as an anti‐cancer supplement is still controversial. Here, we evaluate the effects of methionine supplementation in liver cancer cells. An integrative proteomic and metabolomic analysis indicates a rewiring of the central carbon metabolism, with an upregulation of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in the presence of high methionine and AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibition. Methionine supplementation also reduces growth rate in liver cancer cells and induces the activation of both the AMPK and mTOR pathways. Interestingly, in high methionine concentration, inhibition of AMPK strongly impairs cell growth, cell migration, and colony formation, indicating the main role of AMPK in the control of liver cancer phenotypes. Therefore, regulation of methionine in the diet combined with AMPK inhibition could reduce liver cancer progression.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
AMPK; TCA cycle; migration; growth; proteomics; metabolomics; HCC
English
16-nov-2020
2020
9
11
2491
none
Tripodi, F., Badone, B., Vescovi, M., Milanesi, R., Nonnis, S., Maffioli, E., et al. (2020). Methionine Supplementation Affects Metabolism and Reduces Tumor Aggressiveness in Liver Cancer Cells. CELLS, 9(11) [10.3390/cells9112491].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/294853
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