cover image: ACOX1-mediated peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation contributes to metabolic reprogramming and survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

ACOX1-mediated peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation contributes to metabolic reprogramming and survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

6 Dec 2023

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is still an incurable disease, with many patients developing resistance to conventional and targeted therapies. To better understand the physiology of CLL and facilitate the development of innovative treatment options, we examined specific metabolic features in the tumor CLL B-lymphocytes. We observed metabolic reprogramming, characterized by a high level of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation activity, a low glycolytic rate, and the presence of C2- to C6-carnitine end-products revealing an unexpected, essential role for peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation (pFAO). Accordingly, downmodulation of ACOX1 (a rate-limiting pFAO enzyme overexpressed in CLL cells) was enough to shift the CLL cells’ metabolism from lipids to a carbon- and amino-acid-based phenotype. Complete blockade of ACOX1 resulted in lipid droplet accumulation and caspase-dependent death in CLL cells, including those from individuals with poor cytogenetic and clinical prognostic factors. In a therapeutic translational approach, ACOX1 inhibition spared non-tumor blood cells from CLL patients but led to the death of circulating, BCR-stimulated CLL B-lymphocytes and CLL B-cells receiving pro-survival stromal signals. Furthermore, a combination of ACOX1 and BTK inhibitors had a synergistic killing effect. Overall, our results highlight a less-studied but essential metabolic pathway in CLL and pave the way towards the development of new, metabolism-based treatment options.

Authors

Mariana Tannoury, Marianne Ayoub, Léa Dehgane, Ivan Nemazanyy, Kenza Dubois, Charlotte Izabelle, Aurélie Brousse, Damien Roos-Weil, Karim Maloum, Hélène Merle-Béral, Brigitte Bauvois, Bruno Saubamea, Elise Chapiro, Florence Nguyen-Khac, Delphine Garnier, Santos Susin

Bibliographic Reference
Mariana Tannoury, Marianne Ayoub, Léa Dehgane, Ivan Nemazanyy, Kenza Dubois, et al.. ACOX1-mediated peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation contributes to metabolic reprogramming and survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia, 2023, ⟨10.1038/s41375-023-02103-8⟩. ⟨hal-04329582⟩
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-023-02103-8
Funding
Association Laurette Fugain (ALF 2020/08), Ligue Contre le Cancer-Comité de Paris (RS20/75-66 and RS19/75-59), Cancéropôle IDF (2021-1-EMERG-49-INSERM 6-1), GEFLUC-Les Entreprises contre le Cancer, Paris Ile de France , SIRIC-CURAMUS (Cancer United research Associating Medecine, University and Society; grant reference: INCa-DGOS-INSERM_12560 and INCa-DGOS-INSERM-ITMO Cancer_18010) and Société Française d’Hématologie (SFH).
HAL Collection
['CNRS - Centre national de la recherche scientifique', 'AP-HP', 'Sorbonne Université', 'Sorbonne Université 01/01/2018', 'Sorbonne Université - Texte Intégral', 'Alliance Sorbonne Université']
HAL Identifier
4329582
Institution
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
Published in
France

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