Glucose metabolism inhibits apoptosis in neurons and cancer cells by redox inactivation of cytochrome c.
Neurons and cancer cells use glucose extensively, yet the precise advantage of this adaptation remains unclear. These two seemingly disparate cell types also show an increased regulation of the apoptotic pathway, which allows for their long-term survival. Here we show that both neurons and cancer cells strictly inhibit cytochrome c-mediated apoptosis by a mechanism dependent on glucose metabolism. We report that the pro-apoptotic activity of cytochrome c is influenced by its redox state and that increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) following an apoptotic insult lead to the oxidation and activation of cytochrome c. In healthy neurons and cancer cells, however, cytochrome c is reduced and held inactive by intracellular glutathione (GSH), generated as a result of glucose metabolism by the pentose phosphate pathway. These results uncover a striking similarity in apoptosis regulation between neurons and cancer cells and provide insight into an adaptive advantage offered by the Warburg effect for cancer cell evasion of apoptosis and for long-term neuronal survival.
Vaughn
Allyson E
AE
Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Box 7250, 115 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA.
Deshmukh
Mohanish
M
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism*; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010427:Pentose Phosphate Pathway / Q000187:drug effects; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology
D045304:Cytochromes c; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D005947:Glucose