Abstract
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.
Citations
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