Degradation of Hexokinase 2 Blocks Glycolysis and Induces GSDME-Dependent Pyroptosis to Amplify Immunogenic Cell Death for Breast Cancer Therapy

J Med Chem. 2023 Jul 13;66(13):8464-8483. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00118. Epub 2023 Jun 27.

Abstract

Hexokinase 2 (HK2) is the principal rate-limiting enzyme in the aerobic glycolysis pathway and determines the quantity of glucose entering glycolysis. However, the current HK2 inhibitors have poor activity, so we used proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology to design and synthesize novel HK2 degraders. Among them, C-02 has the best activity to degrade HK2 protein and inhibit breast cancer cells. It is demonstrated that C-02 could block glycolysis, cause mitochondrial damage, and then induce GSDME-dependent pyroptosis. Furthermore, pyroptosis induces cell immunogenic death (ICD) and activates antitumor immunity, thus improving antitumor immunotherapy in vitro and in vivo. These findings show that the degradation of HK2 can effectively inhibit the aerobic metabolism of breast cancer cells, thereby inhibiting their malignant proliferation and reversing the immunosuppressive microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Glycolysis
  • Hexokinase*
  • Humans
  • Immunogenic Cell Death
  • Pyroptosis
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Hexokinase