Linkage of drug resistance and metabolome shift in renal cell carcinoma cells

Abstract

Metabolome analysis is an approach to investigate cell characteristics from the metabolites that are constantly produced and changed by those cells. We conducted a metabolome analysis of the response of 786-O renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells to histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, which are expected to increase anticancer drug sensitivity, and compared the response with that of drug-resistant cells. Trichostatin A (TSA), an HDAC inhibitor, increased the sensitivity of 786-O cells to sunitinib. Moreover, TCA cycle and nucleotide metabolism of the cells were promoted. The findings that acetylated p53 (active form) and early apoptotic cells were increased suggests that the mechanism involved enhancement of mitochondrial metabolism and function. In addition, established sunitinib-resistant RCC cells were exposed to a combination of sunitinib and TSA, resulting in significant growth inhibition. Principal component analysis revealed that the parent and resistant cells were obviously diŠerent, but approximately half their fluctuations were illustrated by the same pathways. In summary, it was suggested that TSA reduced sunitinib resistance by triggering intracellular metabolome shifts in energy metabolism. This was the first recognized mechanism of action of TSA as an HDAC inhibitor.