Glutaminase-1 stimulates the proliferation, migration, and survival of human endothelial cells

Glutaminase-1 (GLS1) is a mitochondrial enzyme found in endothelial cells (ECs) that metabolizes glutamine to glutamate and ammonia. Although glutaminolysis modulates the function of human umbilical vein ECs, it is not known whether these findings extend to human ECs beyond the fetal circulation. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism by which GLS1 regulates EC function is not defined. In this study, we show that the absence of glutamine in the culture media or the inhibition of GLS1 activity or expression blocked the proliferation and migration of ECs derived from the human umbilical vein, the human aorta, and the human microvasculature. GLS1 inhibition arrested ECs in the G₀/G₁ phase of the cell cycle and this was associated with a significant decline in cyclin A expression. Restoration of cyclin A expression via adenoviral-mediated gene transfer improved the proliferative, but not the migratory, response of GLS1-inhibited ECs. Glutamine deprivation or GLS1 inhibition also stimulated the production of reactive oxygen species and this was associated with a marked decline in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. GLS1 inhibition also sensitized ECs to the cytotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide and this was prevented by the overexpression of HO-1. In conclusion, the metabolism of glutamine by GLS1 promotes human EC proliferation, migration, and survival irrespective of the vascular source. While cyclin A contributes to the proliferative action of GLS1, HO-1 mediates its pro-survival effect. These results identify GLS1 as a promising therapeutic target in treating diseases associated with aberrant EC proliferation, migration, and viability.