title: Targeting respiratory complex I to prevent the Warburg effect.
abstract: In the last 10 years, studies of energetic metabolism in different tumors clearly indicate that the definition of Warburg effect, i.e. the glycolytic shift cells undergo upon transformation, ought to be revisited considering the metabolic plasticity of cancer cells. In fact, recent findings show that the shift from glycolysis to re-established oxidative metabolism is required for certain steps of tumor progression, suggesting that mitochondrial function and, in particular, respiratory complex I are crucial for metabolic and hypoxic adaptation. Based on these evidences, complex I can be considered a lethality target for potential anticancer strategies. In conclusion, in this mini review we summarize and discuss why it is not paradoxical to develop pharmacological and genome editing approaches to target complex I as novel adjuvant therapies for cancer treatment. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Energy Metabolism Disorders and Therapies.
authors: Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FABIT), Università di Bologna, via Irnerio 42, 40126 Bologna, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche (DIMEC), U.O. Genetica Medica, Pol. Universitario S. Orsola-Malpighi, Università di Bologna, via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Renaud
authors: R
authors: Vatrinet
authors: Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FABIT), Università di Bologna, via Irnerio 42, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Iommarini
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche (DIMEC), U.O. Genetica Medica, Pol. Universitario S. Orsola-Malpighi, Università di Bologna, via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Kurelac
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche (DIMEC), U.O. Genetica Medica, Pol. Universitario S. Orsola-Malpighi, Università di Bologna, via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: De Luise
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche (DIMEC), U.O. Genetica Medica, Pol. Universitario S. Orsola-Malpighi, Università di Bologna, via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Gasparre
authors: Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FABIT), Università di Bologna, via Irnerio 42, 40126 Bologna, Italy; Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Industriale Scienze della Vita e Tecnologie per la Salute, Università di Bologna, 40100 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: annamaria.porcelli@unibo.it.
authors: Anna Maria
authors: AM
authors: Porcelli
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I
keywords: Metabolic reprogramming; OXPHOS; Respiratory complex I; Tumor progression; Warburg effect