Insulin promotes hepatocarcinoma tumorigenesis by up-regulating PKM2 expression

Exp Cell Res. 2021 Nov 15;408(2):112872. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112872. Epub 2021 Oct 11.

Abstract

Insulin, as a growth factor, can increase the risk of certain types of cancer. The present study showed that insulin promoted the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo through pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), which is a rate-limiting enzyme in the process of glycolysis. Moreover, the expression of PKM2 was up-regulated by insulin at the posttranslational level in a nuclear orphan receptor TR3-dependent manner. In addition, insulin could enhance the interaction between PKM2 and TR3 and protect PKM2 from degradation. Our results identified a specific mechanism of insulin affecting cancer metabolism and thus promoting cancer progression, and they contribute to a better understanding of the observation that insulin is linked to an increased cancer risk under hyperinsulinemic conditions.

Keywords: Cell proliferation; Hepatocarcinoma; Insulin; Interaction; Pyruvate kinase M2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Glycolysis / genetics
  • Humans
  • Insulin / genetics*
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1 / genetics*
  • Thyroid Hormone-Binding Proteins
  • Thyroid Hormones / genetics*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Insulin
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1
  • Thyroid Hormones