UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase regulates hyaluronic acid production and promotes breast cancer progression

Oncogene. 2020 Apr;39(15):3089-3101. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-0885-4. Epub 2019 Jul 15.

Abstract

An improved understanding of the biochemical alterations that accompany tumor progression and metastasis is necessary to inform the next generation of diagnostic tools and targeted therapies. Metabolic reprogramming is known to occur during the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that promotes metastasis. Here, we identify metabolic enzymes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling that are upregulated during EMT and are highly expressed in patients with aggressive mesenchymal-like breast cancer. Activation of EMT significantly increases production of hyaluronic acid, which is enabled by the reprogramming of glucose metabolism. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we show that depletion of the hyaluronic acid precursor UDP-glucuronic acid is sufficient to inhibit several mesenchymal-like properties including cellular invasion and colony formation in vitro, as well as tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. We found that depletion of UDP-glucuronic acid altered the expression of PPAR-gamma target genes and increased PPAR-gamma DNA-binding activity. Taken together, our findings indicate that the disruption of EMT-induced metabolic reprogramming affects hyaluronic acid production, as well as associated extracellular matrix remodeling and represents pharmacologically actionable target for the inhibition of aggressive mesenchymal-like breast cancer progression.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chick Embryo
  • Chorioallantoic Membrane
  • Disease Progression
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
  • Extracellular Matrix / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronic Acid / biosynthesis*
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism
  • RNA-Seq
  • Tissue Array Analysis
  • Uridine Diphosphate Glucose Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Uridine Diphosphate Glucose Dehydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Uridine Diphosphate Glucuronic Acid / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • PPAR gamma
  • PPARG protein, human
  • Uridine Diphosphate Glucuronic Acid
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • UGDH protein, human
  • Uridine Diphosphate Glucose Dehydrogenase