Acquisition of temozolomide chemoresistance in gliomas leads to remodeling of mitochondrial electron transport chain.
Temozolomide (TMZ) is an oral alkylating agent used for the treatment of high-grade gliomas. Acquired chemoresistance is a severe limitation to this therapy with more than 90% of recurrent gliomas showing no response to a second cycle of chemotherapy. Efforts to better understand the underlying mechanisms of acquired chemoresistance to TMZ and potential strategies to overcome chemoresistance are, therefore, critically needed. TMZ methylates nuclear DNA and induces cell death; however, the impact on mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) and mitochondrial bioenergetics is not known. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that TMZ-mediated alterations in mtDNA and respiratory function contribute to TMZ-dependent acquired chemoresistance. Using an in vitro model of TMZ-mediated acquired chemoresistance, we report 1) a decrease in mtDNA copy number and the presence of large heteroplasmic mtDNA deletions in TMZ-resistant glioma cells, 2) remodeling of the entire electron transport chain with significant decreases of complexes I and V and increases of complexes II/III and IV, and 3) pharmacologic and genetic manipulation of cytochrome c oxidase, which restores sensitivity to TMZ-dependent apoptosis in resistant glioma cells. Importantly, human primary and recurrent pairs of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) biopsies as well as primary and TMZ-resistant GBM xenograft lines exhibit similar remodeling of the ETC. Overall these results suggest that TMZ-dependent acquired chemoresistance may be due to a mitochondrial adaptive response to TMZ genotoxic stress with a major contribution from cytochrome c oxidase. Thus, abrogation of this adaptive response may reverse chemoresistance and restore sensitivity to TMZ, providing a strategy for improved therapeutic outcomes in GBM patients.
Oliva
Claudia R
CR
Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0006, USA.
Nozell
Susan E
SE
Diers
Anne
A
McClugage
Samuel G
SG
Sarkaria
Jann N
JN
Markert
James M
JM
Darley-Usmar
Victor M
VM
Bailey
Shannon M
SM
Gillespie
G Yancey
GY
Landar
Aimee
A
Griguer
Corinne E
CE
D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000077204:Temozolomide; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D045222:Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide