A non-metabolic function of hexokinase 2 in small cell lung cancer: promotes cancer cell stemness by increasing USP11-mediated CD133 stability.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Maintenance of cancer stem-like cell (CSC) stemness supported by aberrantly regulated cancer cell metabolism is critical for CSC self-renewal and tumor progression. As a key glycolytic enzyme, hexokinase 2 (HK2) plays an instrumental role in aerobic glycolysis and tumor progression. However, whether HK2 directly contribute to CSC stemness maintenance in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is largely unclear. In this study, we aimed to investgate whether HK2 independent of its glycolytic activity is directly involved in stemness maintenance of CSC in SCLC.

Methods

Immunoblotting analyses were conducted to determine the expression of HK2 in SCLC CSCs and their differentiated counterparts. CSC-like properties and tumorigenesis of SCLC cells with or without HK2 depletion or

SUBMITTER: Wang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9558687 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature