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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Assessing Cell Viability and Death in 3D Spheroid Cultures of Cancer Cells
Published on: June 16, 2019
CuZnSOD and MnSOD inhibit metabolic stress-induced necrosis and multicellular tumour spheroid growth
Su Yeon Lee1, Hyun Min Jeon, Cho Hee Kim
1Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Pusan 609-735, Korea.
Abstract:
CuZnSOD and MnSOD have been shown to exert tumour suppressive activities; however, their exact molecular mechanism is still unclear. We investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the tumour suppressive activities of CuZnSOD and MnSOD using multicellular tumour spheroid (MTS), an in vitro tumour model. Overexpression of CuZnSOD and MnSOD significantly suppressed the growth of A549 and MCF-7 MTS, supporting a critical role(s) of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumour growth. In solid tumours, ROS is produced by metabolic stress due to insufficient oxygen and glucose supply and induces necrosis that is known to promote tumour progression by releasing the proinflammatory cytokine HMGB1. We observed that CuZnSOD and MnSOD overexpression prevents metabolic stress-induced necrosis and HMGB1 release by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS and intracellular O2- production in response to glucose depletion in two dimensional cell culture. CuZnSOD and MnSOD overexpression also significantly repressed the occurrence of necrosis that was observed during MTS culture. In human tumour tissues including lung pulmonary adenocarcinoma, CuZnSOD and MnSOD expression was detected in the para-necrotic region that was identified by the expression of a hypoxic marker carbonic anhydrase (CA) IX. These results suggest that CuZnSOD and MnSOD may suppress tumour growth through inhibiting metabolic stress-induced necrosis and HMGB1 release via inhibiting metabolic stress-induced mitochondrial ROS production.
Insights
Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) suppress tumor growth by preventing necrosis and HMGB1 release. These enzymes inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under metabolic stress, a key factor in tumor progression.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) exhibit tumor suppressive activities, but their precise molecular mechanisms remain elusive.
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role in tumor growth, with metabolic stress in solid tumors leading to necrosis and promoting progression via HMGB1 release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the tumor suppressive activities of CuZnSOD and MnSOD.
- To investigate the role of ROS, metabolic stress, necrosis, and HMGB1 in tumor growth suppression by CuZnSOD and MnSOD.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multicellular tumor spheroid (MTS) and 2D cell culture models.
- Overexpressed CuZnSOD and MnSOD in A549 and MCF-7 cell lines.
- Analyzed ROS production, necrosis, HMGB1 release, and carbonic anhydrase (CA) IX expression in tumor tissues.
Main Results:
- Overexpression of CuZnSOD and MnSOD significantly suppressed A549 and MCF-7 MTS growth.
- CuZnSOD and MnSOD overexpression inhibited metabolic stress-induced necrosis and HMGB1 release by reducing mitochondrial ROS and intracellular O2- production.
- These enzymes were detected in the para-necrotic regions of human lung adenocarcinoma tissues.
Conclusions:
- CuZnSOD and MnSOD suppress tumor growth by inhibiting metabolic stress-induced necrosis and HMGB1 release.
- The mechanism involves the inhibition of mitochondrial ROS production under conditions of metabolic stress, such as glucose depletion.
- Findings suggest a therapeutic potential for CuZnSOD and MnSOD in cancer treatment by targeting ROS-mediated tumor progression.
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