Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2025
Author Spotlight: Liujunzi Decoction as a Traditional Chinese Treatment for Coloproctitis Cancer
Published on: October 13, 2023
Exploring the effect of polyamines on NK cell function in colorectal cancer process based on glycolysis
Huan He1, Zijing Song1, Siqi Lin1
1School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes with important anti-tumour functions. Cellular metabolism is dynamically regulated in NK cells and strongly influences their responses. Myc is a key regulator of immune cell activity and function, but little is known about how Myc controls NK cell activation and function. In this study, we found that c-Myc is involved in the regulation of NK cell immune activity. In the development of colon cancer, the energy generation disorder of tumor cells promotes the plunder of polyamines of NK cells by tumor cells, resulting in the inhibition of NK cell c-Myc. After inhibition of c-Myc, glycolysis of NK cells was impaired, resulting in decreased killing activity. There are three main types of polyamines: putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm). We found that the NK cells could reverse the inhibition state of c-Myc and glycolysis energy supply disorder and recover the killing activity of NK cells after giving certain spermidine. These results suggest that polyamine content and glycolysis supply under the regulation of c-Myc play a crucial role in the immune activity of NK cells.
Insights
Colon cancer inhibits natural killer (NK) cells by depleting polyamines, affecting c-Myc and energy production. Supplementing spermidine can restore NK cell anti-tumor activity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cellular Metabolism
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial lymphocytes for anti-tumor immunity.
- Cellular metabolism significantly impacts NK cell function and responses.
- The role of Myc in regulating NK cell activation and function is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of c-Myc in NK cell immune activity.
- To understand how colon cancer affects NK cell metabolism and function.
- To explore the potential of polyamine supplementation to restore NK cell activity.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the involvement of c-Myc in NK cell immune activity.
- Analyzed the impact of colon cancer on NK cell polyamine levels and c-Myc expression.
- Assessed the effects of c-Myc inhibition on NK cell glycolysis and killing activity.
- Evaluated the recovery of NK cell function after spermidine supplementation.
Main Results:
- Colon cancer impairs NK cell c-Myc expression by promoting polyamine plunder.
- Inhibition of c-Myc leads to impaired NK cell glycolysis and reduced killing activity.
- Spermidine supplementation reversed c-Myc inhibition and restored NK cell glycolysis and killing activity.
Conclusions:
- c-Myc regulates NK cell immune activity, particularly glycolysis and energy supply.
- Polyamines are critical for maintaining NK cell function, and their depletion by tumors inhibits anti-tumor responses.
- Spermidine shows potential in restoring NK cell anti-tumor functions compromised by metabolic dysregulation.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...