Title | Silibinin down-regulates PD-L1 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by interfering with tumor cell glycolytic metabolism. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2020 |
Authors | Sellam LSarah, Zappasodi R, Chettibi F, Djennaoui D, Mesbah NYahi-Ait, Amir-Tidadini Z-C, Touil-Boukoffa C, Ouahioune W, Merghoub T, Bourouba M |
Journal | Arch Biochem Biophys |
Volume | 690 |
Pagination | 108479 |
Date Published | 2020 Sep 15 |
ISSN | 1096-0384 |
Keywords | Adolescent, Adult, Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic, B7-H1 Antigen, Biopsy, Cell Line, Tumor, Cell Proliferation, Citric Acid Cycle, Down-Regulation, Drug Discovery, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Glycolysis, Humans, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit, Lactate Dehydrogenase 5, Middle Aged, Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Signal Transduction, Silybin |
Abstract | The upregulation of checkpoint inhibitor PD-L1 expression has recently been associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) resistance to therapy. The mechanism of induction of PD-L1 has also been linked to enhanced aerobic glycolysis promoted by HIF1-α dysregulation and LDH-A activity in cancer. Here, we investigated the effect of the anti-tumoral compound Silibinin on HIF-1α/LDH-A mediated cancer cell metabolism and PD-L1 expression in NPC. Our results demonstrate that exposure to Silibinin potently inhibits tumor growth and promotes a shift from aerobic glycolysis toward oxidative phosphorylation. The EBV + NPC cell line C666-1 and glycolytic human tumor explants treated with Silibinin displayed a reduction in LDH-A activity which consistently associated with a reduction in lactate levels. This effect was accompanied by an increase in intracellular citrate levels in C666-1 cells. Accordingly, expression of HIF-1α, a critical regulator of glycolysis, was down-regulated after treatment. This event associated with a down-regulation in PD-L1. Altogether, our results provide evidence that silibinin can alter PD-L1 expression by interfering with HIF-1α/LDH-A mediated cell metabolism in NPC. These results provide a new perspective for Silibinin use to overcome PD-L1 mediated NPC resistance to therapy. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108479 |
Alternate Journal | Arch Biochem Biophys |
PubMed ID | 32679194 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC8507490 |
Grant List | P30 CA008748 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States |