Mitochondria are an important factor in cancer

Mitochondria are an important factor in cancer

Mitochondria are an important factor in cancer. Nature Cancer: Why the older you are, the more likely you are to get cancer. Mitochondria are the key. Mutations in mitochondrial genes related to aging lead to metabolic remodeling and accelerate intestinal cancer

Metabolism is one of the key signs of tumor cells. As early as 1956, Otto Warburg observed that tumor cells would preferentially use glycolysis to produce ATP instead of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). It is worth noting that, as a special semi-autonomous organelle, mitochondria have their own DNA and also perform the important function of “energy factory” in the cell.

So, what is the connection between mitochondria and tumor development?

Recently, researchers from the Wellcome Foundation Mitochondrial Research Center, Newcastle University, UK, published a research paper titled Age-associated mitochondrial DNA mutations cause metabolic remodeling that contributes to accelerated intestinal tumorigenesis in Nature Cancer.

This study shows that age-related mitochondrial DNA mutations cause defects in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) function, which leads to changes in cell metabolism, which in turn accelerates the occurrence of intestinal tumors.

In fact, scientists have found that in tumor cells, the OXPHOS function of mitochondria is in a down-regulated state in many types of tumors. At the same time, the defects in the OXPHOS system are also a common feature in many human aging tissues.

Among the many types of cancer, colorectal cancer will increase with age and is closely related to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. Therefore, in this study, the research team led by Laura C. Greaves explored whether age-related mtDNA mutations play an important role in the development of colorectal cancer.

To verify this, the researchers constructed a mouse model of colorectal cancer (Lgr5-creER; Apcfl/fl) in which the APC tumor suppressor gene was knocked out and defective in the OXPHOS system, with mtDNA mutations. Knockout of the APC tumor suppressor gene accelerated tumor cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis, resulting in larger tumors in these mice than in the control group.

Tumors grow faster in APC knockout and OXPHOS system-deficient mouse models

Then, the research team also found that these colorectal cancer cells can upregulate the de novo serine synthesis pathway (SSP) to undergo metabolic remodeling to deal with OXPHOS system defects.

At the same time, the research team also performed in situ immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis in human colorectal cancer samples, and they found that of 22 OXPHOS-deficient tumor samples, 18 had one or more mtDNA mutations. In addition, they also observed a similar mtDNA mutation profile in normal aging intestinal tissue samples.

In situ immunohistochemical analysis of human colorectal cancer OXPHOS

In fact, there are multiple copies of the mitochondrial genome, but with age, different copies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) will accumulate more and more mutations, until the same somatic mtDNA mutations accumulate to a high level in a single cell. , Which may eventually lead to OXPHOS system defects.

Anna Smith, the first author of the paper, said that a single or a few mitochondrial DNA mutations will not have much impact, but when these mutations accumulate to a certain extent, they will lead to OXPHOS defects and metabolic changes, which will provide in the process of tumorigenesis. The advantage of selective metabolism, in addition, the process of mutation accumulation is inseparable from aging!

Anna Smith also said that their research results also raise an important question-is there an increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer among patients with mitochondrial diseases caused by genetically pathogenic mtDNA mutations?

Schematic diagram of the hypothetical mechanism of tumorigenesis caused by mtDNA mutations and OXPHOS defects

All in all, this study confirmed in mouse models and human clinical samples that with age, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) continues to undergo mutations, leading to defects in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) function, thereby changing the way cells are metabolized , And ultimately accelerate the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer.

More importantly, this study also found that age-related mitochondrial OXPHOS defects can promote the growth and survival of intestinal cancer cells by up-regulating the serine de novo synthesis pathway (SSP). Given that metabolic pathways are important targets for tumor therapeutic intervention, they can be developed in the future Targeted drugs for SSP can effectively treat colorectal cancer and other intestinal tumors.

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