Arsenic exposure increases susceptibility to Ptpn11-induced malignancy in mouse embryonic fibroblasts through...

To explore the synergistic effect and metabolic mechanism of chronic arsenic exposure and PTPN11 gain-of-function mutation on tumorigenesis.

Arsenic-transformed Ptpn11 (WT-As) and Ptpn11 -mutant (D61G-As) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were established by chronic treatment of low-dose arsenic. We used cell counting, plate colony and soft agar colony formation, and a nude mouse xenograft model to detect malignant transformation and tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. To detect mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), we used Seahorse real-time cell metabolic analysis as well as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and ROS production assays. Lastly, we examined mTOR signaling pathway changes by western blotting.

Low-dose arsenic exposure promoted WT MEFs proliferation and exacerbated malignancy driven by Ptpn11 mutation. Additionally, Ptpn11 -mutant MEFs exhibited increased mitochondrial metabolism and low-dose arsenic amplified this malignant metabolic activity. Mechanistically, the mTOR signaling pathway was activated in Ptpn11 -mutant MEFs and was further phosphorylated in arsenic-treated MEFs expressing Ptpn11 . Critically, tumorigenesis induced by the synergistic effect of low-dose arsenic and Ptpn11 mutation was prevented by mTOR pathway inhibition via rapamycin.

This study found that metabolic reprogramming, particularly mitochondrial hyperactivation, is a core mechanism underlying tumorigenesis induced by the synergistic effect of Ptpn11 mutation and arsenic exposure. Furthermore, these findings suggested mTOR is a therapeutic target for Ptpn11-associated cancers.