Oncogenic viral infection and amino acid metabolism in cancer progression: Molecular insights and clinical implications

Na Liu; Feng Shi; Lifang Yang; Weihua Liao; Ya Cao

doi:10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188724

Oncogenic viral infection and amino acid metabolism in cancer progression: Molecular insights and clinical implications

Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer. 2022 May;1877(3):188724. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188724. Epub 2022 Mar 18.

Authors

Na Liu¹, Feng Shi², Lifang Yang³, Weihua Liao⁴, Ya Cao⁵

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Radiology, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
² Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Radiology, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; Molecular Imaging Research Center of Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China. Electronic address: Shi_feng@csu.edu.cn.
³ Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Radiology, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; Molecular Imaging Research Center of Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Radiology, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Radiology, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; Molecular Imaging Research Center of Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China; Research Center for Technologies of Nucleic Acid-Based Diagnostics and Therapeutics Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China; National Joint Engineering Research Center for Genetic Diagnostics of Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Changsha 410078, China. Electronic address: ycao98@vip.sina.com.

PMID: 35314213
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188724

Abstract

Viruses lack essential living system, so they must hijack host cell metabolism for its survival and reproduction. Interestingly, the metabolic reprogramming induced by oncovirus is critical for the malignant transformation. Amino acid can supply the source of nitrogen and carbon for biosynthesis or fulfill the energy requirement for the rapid growth of tumor cells. Amino acid metabolism caused by oncogenic viral infection often mirrors metabolic changes observed in cancer cells, such as glutamine addiction, asparagine dependence, arginine auxotrophy and active serine/ proline metabolism. In this review, we describe amino acid metabolism reprogramming in tumors. We also discuss how oncogenic viruses hijack amino acid metabolism in the stress status. Further research on the metabolic profile of virus-related cancers will not only provide new targets for tumor prevention and treatment, but novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies as well.

Keywords: Amino acid metabolism; Infection-related carcinogenesis; Metabolic reprogramming; Oncogenic virus.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amino Acids
Glutamine / metabolism
Humans
Neoplasms* / pathology
Oncogenic Viruses*

Substances

Amino Acids
Glutamine