β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase promotes pancreatic cancer cell proliferation through regulation of the NAD⁺/NADH balance and mitochondrial acetylation.

ABSTRACT: Ketone bodies are a key alternative energy source during carbohydrate deficiency. In addition to their metabolic function, they regulate essential cellular processes, including metabolism, signal transduction, and protein post-translational modifications (PTMs). However, the role of ketone body metabolism in tumorigenesis remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that ketone body synthesis metabolism is activated in pancreatic cancer, while exogenous ketone supplementation does not affect PDAC cell proliferation. Moreover, we observe a significant upregulation of β-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (BDH1), a key enzyme in ketone body metabolism, in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues compared to adjacent normal pancreatic tissues. BDH1 promotes PDAC cell proliferation b

SUBMITTER: Wei X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12494558 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature