Metabolic abnormalities are one of the main hallmarks of
cancer and are associated with chemoresistance. Therefore,
targeting the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells has
the potential to overcome chemoresistance. Probiotic-derived
extracellular vesicles (EVs) play important roles in biological
function and intracellular communication. However, the inhibitory
effect of Lactobacillus plantarum-derived EVs (LpEVs)
on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells has not yet been elucidated.
This study clearly revealed that increased glycolysis in 5-fluorouracil
(5-FU)-resistant CRC cells (CRC/5FUR) is directly
related to chemoresistance and that the metabolic shift reversed
by LpEVs inhibits cancer cell proliferation and eventually
leads to apoptosis. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2
(PDK2), one of the crucial enzymes for enhancing glycolysis,
was upregulated in CRC/5FUR cells. In our study, LpEVs sensitized
CRC/5FUR cells to 5-FU by attenuating PDK2 expression
in p53-p21-dependent metabolic signaling, thereby
circumventing 5-FU resistance. We demonstrated the effect
of cellular responses to 5-FU by modifying the PDK2
expression level in both 5-FU-sensitive parental CRC and 5-
FU resistant CRC cell lines. Finally, we revealed that the PDK2
signaling pathway can potentially be targeted using LpEVs
treatment to overcome chemoresistant CRC, thereby providing
a potential strategy for CRC treatment by intervening in
tumor metabolism.
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