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Zeb1-mediated control of PUFA-phospholipids in EMT/plasticity-associated cancer cell ferroptosis

ABSTRACT: Therapy resistance and metastasis, the most fatal steps in cancer, are often triggered by a (partial) activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT)-program. A mesenchymal phenotype predisposes to ferroptosis, a cell death pathway exerted by an iron and oxygen-radical mediated peroxidation of phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). We here describe that various forms of EMT-activation, including TGFB-stimulation, increase ferroptosis-susceptibility in cancer cells, which depends on the EMT-transcription factor Zeb1. Among other effects, we demonstrate that Zeb1 increases the ratio of phospholipids containing pro-ferroptotic PUFAs over cyto-protective monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and modulates the expression of underlying crucial lipogenic enzymes (and ACSL4). Pharmacological inhibition of selected lipogenic enzymes (SCD and FADS2) allows the manipulation of ferroptosis-sensitivity in a Zeb1-dependent manner. Our data are of potential translational relevance and suggest a combination of ferroptosis-activators and SCD-inhibitors for the treatment of aggressive cancers expressing Zeb1, which might also be a useful predictive marker for such a combination therapy

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE264671 | GEO | 2024/07/05

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Endogenous PUFAs are nonconjugated PUFAs and their peroxidation proceeds via the hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT) mechanism. We previously reported that lipids with conjugated double bonds undergo lipid peroxidation mostly via a different mechanism, peroxyl radical addition (PRA), and were much more readily oxidizable than nonconjugated ones. In this study, we aim to elucidate the effects of various unsaturated lipids in sensitizing ferroptosis. We found that while some peroxidation-reactive lipids, such as 7-dehydrocholesterol, vitamins D3 and A, and coenzyme Q10, suppress ferroptosis, both nonconjugated and conjugated PUFAs enhanced cell death induced by RSL3, a ferroptosis inducer. Importantly, we showed that conjugated linolenic acid (CLA 18:3) could act as a ferroptosis inducer by itself and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA 18:2) was more potent in sensitizing cells to RSL3-induced cell death than any nonconjugated PUFAs. We next sought to elucidate the mechanism underlying the different ferroptosis-inducing potency of conjugated and nonconjugated PUFAs. Lipidomics revealed that conjugated and nonconjugated PUFAs are incorporated into distinct cellular lipid species. Furthermore, the different peroxidation mechanisms predict the formation of higher levels of reactive electrophilic aldehydes from conjugated PUFAs than nonconjugated PUFAs, which was confirmed by aldehyde-trapping and mass spectrometry. RNA sequencing revealed that protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and proteasome are among the most significantly upregulated pathways in cells treated with CLA 18:3, suggesting increased ER stress and activation of unfolded protein response. Significantly, using click chemistry, we observed increased protein adduction by oxidized lipids in cells treated with an alkynylated CLA 18:2 probe. These results suggest that protein damage by lipid electrophiles is a key step in ferroptosis.

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Zeb1-mediated control of PUFA-phospholipids in EMT/plasticity-associated cancer cell ferroptosis

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