Abstract
BACKGROUND
IDH1-mutated glioma is a recently defined disease entity with distinctive patterns of tumor cell biology, metabolism, and resistance to therapy. Although IDH1 mutations are highly prevalent in patients with WHO II/III glioma, curative molecular targeting approaches remain unavailable for this disease cluster.
METHODS
In the present study, we investigated the glutathione de novo synthesis pathway through the TCGA patient cohort and patient-derived cell lines with IDH1 mutation. The biologic function of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) was analyzed by biochemistry and cell biology assays. Finally, NRF2 inhibitors were evaluated in IDH1-mutated cell lines and preclinical models as an experimental therapy.
RESULTS
IDH1 mutant neomorphic activity depletes the cellular pools of enzyme cofactors such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). The limitation of NAD(P) not only affects the anabolic reactions, but also results in oxidative stress and damages on DNA and protein. Further, we showed that the reprogrammed redox landscape results in constitutive activation of NRF2-governed cytoprotective pathways through the decoupling of NRF2 from its E3 ligase Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1. NRF2 mediated the transcriptional activation of GCLC, GCLM, and SLC7A11, which not only strengthens the glutathione de novo synthesis, but also relieves the metabolic burden in IDH1-mutated cells. The importance of the glutathione synthesis is further confirmed through COX regression analysis on lower-grade glioma. Blockade of the NRF2/glutathione metabolic pathway synergizes with the elevated intrinsic oxidative stress, which results in overwhelming oxidative damage, as well as a substantial reduction in tumor cell proliferation and xenograft expansion.
CONCLUSION
We report that the NRF2-guided cytoprotective pathways play pivotal roles in the disease progression of IDH1-mutated glioma. Targeting NRF2 and glutathione metabolism could be novel targeting strategies for IDH1-mutated glioma.