2. Academic Validation
  3. ESRRG-PKM2 axis reprograms metabolism to suppress esophageal squamous carcinoma progression and enhance anti-PD-1 therapy efficacy

ESRRG-PKM2 axis reprograms metabolism to suppress esophageal squamous carcinoma progression and enhance anti-PD-1 therapy efficacy

  • J Transl Med. 2023 Sep 7;21(1):605. doi: 10.1186/s12967-023-04347-5.
Tianxiao Wang # 1,  Yongjun Zhu # 2,  Lu Chen 1,  WenXin Zhang 1,  Huijie Qi 1,  Xiaojin Shi 1,  Mingkang Zhong 1,  Haifei Chen 3,  Qunyi Li 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Pharmacy, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No.12 Urumqi Middle Road, Shanghai, 200040, China.
  • 2 Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
  • 3 Department of Pharmacy, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No.12 Urumqi Middle Road, Shanghai, 200040, China. [email protected].
  • 4 Department of Pharmacy, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No.12 Urumqi Middle Road, Shanghai, 200040, China. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 37679788 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04347-5
Abstract

Background: Glycolysis under normoxic conditions, known as the Warburg effect, confers a selective advantage for the survival and proliferation of many tumors. In this study, we investigated the role of estrogen-related receptor gamma (ESRRG) in metabolic reprogramming in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: Bioinformatics analysis indicated that ESRRG expression was decreased in ESCC tissue and associated with poor clinical outcomes. We also examined the effects of altered ESRRG expression on the proliferation and metabolic reprogramming of ESCC cells. We explored the impact of ESRRG on Pyruvate Kinase M2 (PKM2) expression and malignant behavior in ESCC.

Results: Our study revealed the inhibitory effects of ESRRG on the growth, tumorigenesis, and glycolysis activity of ESCC cells, which were mediated by the downregulation of PKM2 expression. We further demonstrated that ESRRG directly interacts with the PKM2 promoter to inhibit its activity in ESCC. Notably, the ESRRG-specific agonist, DY131, inhibited ESCC cell proliferation and glycolysis activity by modulating genes in the glycolysis pathway. Moreover, we verified that DY131 exhibits enhanced activity as an immune checkpoint inhibitor, considering the significance of the ESRRG-PKM2 axis in the lactate regulation of ESCC cells.

Conclusion: Our findings provide novel insights into the role of ESRRG-PKM2 signaling in regulating ESCC cell metabolism and immune checkpoint regulation. Additionally, we suggest that DY131 holds promise as a promising therapeutic agent for ESCC treatment.

Keywords

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Estrogen-related receptor gamma; Glycolysis; Pyruvate kinase M2.

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