HMGA2/PHGDH axis-mediated glycolysis under hypoxia is required for cadmium-induced A549 cell migration

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread environmental contaminant, which has been classified as a human carcinogen. Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), the first rate-limiting enzyme involved in the serine biosynthesis pathway, was reported to be able to indicate poor prognosis for cancers. In this study,...

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Main Authors: Chunpeng Gao, Qiuxuan Xie, Li Li, Shengxiang Luo, Jianhui Fan, Jun Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325011327
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author Chunpeng Gao
Qiuxuan Xie
Li Li
Shengxiang Luo
Jianhui Fan
Jun Cao
author_facet Chunpeng Gao
Qiuxuan Xie
Li Li
Shengxiang Luo
Jianhui Fan
Jun Cao
author_sort Chunpeng Gao
collection DOAJ
description Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread environmental contaminant, which has been classified as a human carcinogen. Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), the first rate-limiting enzyme involved in the serine biosynthesis pathway, was reported to be able to indicate poor prognosis for cancers. In this study, we investigated the possible mechanism of PHGDH in Cd-induced cell migration. Firstly, 2 μM Cd increased the expression of PHGDH protein in A549 cells and HELF cells. Similarly, Cd exposure (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) led to increased PHGDH expression in lung tissue of male BALB/c mice. Silencing PHGDH suppressed Cd-triggered aerobic glycolysis while enhancing oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), suggesting that PHGDH plays a critical role in the metabolic adjustments caused by Cd exposure. Secondly, the heightened expression of HMGA2 triggered PHGDH, and the Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay revealed HMGA2 protein binds directly to the promoter region of the PHGDH gene. Furthermore, HMGA2/PHGDH axis was determined to be involved in Cd-induced aerobic glycolysis. Using CoCl2 (100 μM) to induce hypoxia and YC-1 (10 μM), the inhibitor of HIF-1α, we demonstrated that HIF-1α might initiate Cd-elevated HMGA2 and PHGDH. Collectively, HIF-1α-elevated HMGA2 regulated PHGDH transcriptionally by binding to the PHGDH promoter, resulting metabolic reprogramming from OXPHOS to glycolysis, which mediated Cd-induced cell migration. This study potentially offers a new approach for prevention of lung cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-f09e332ac51b4038ba4ca396b4e3e9e52025-08-20T03:43:55ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-09-0130311878710.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118787HMGA2/PHGDH axis-mediated glycolysis under hypoxia is required for cadmium-induced A549 cell migrationChunpeng Gao0Qiuxuan Xie1Li Li2Shengxiang Luo3Jianhui Fan4Jun Cao5Multi-Disciplinary Treatment (MDT) Office, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Liaoning 116003, ChinaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health, Dalian Medical University, No. 9 W. Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, ChinaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health, Dalian Medical University, No. 9 W. Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, ChinaDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Health, Dalian Medical University, No. 9 W. Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, ChinaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; Corresponding authors.Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Dalian Medical University, No. 9 W. Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, China; Corresponding authors.Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread environmental contaminant, which has been classified as a human carcinogen. Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), the first rate-limiting enzyme involved in the serine biosynthesis pathway, was reported to be able to indicate poor prognosis for cancers. In this study, we investigated the possible mechanism of PHGDH in Cd-induced cell migration. Firstly, 2 μM Cd increased the expression of PHGDH protein in A549 cells and HELF cells. Similarly, Cd exposure (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) led to increased PHGDH expression in lung tissue of male BALB/c mice. Silencing PHGDH suppressed Cd-triggered aerobic glycolysis while enhancing oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), suggesting that PHGDH plays a critical role in the metabolic adjustments caused by Cd exposure. Secondly, the heightened expression of HMGA2 triggered PHGDH, and the Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay revealed HMGA2 protein binds directly to the promoter region of the PHGDH gene. Furthermore, HMGA2/PHGDH axis was determined to be involved in Cd-induced aerobic glycolysis. Using CoCl2 (100 μM) to induce hypoxia and YC-1 (10 μM), the inhibitor of HIF-1α, we demonstrated that HIF-1α might initiate Cd-elevated HMGA2 and PHGDH. Collectively, HIF-1α-elevated HMGA2 regulated PHGDH transcriptionally by binding to the PHGDH promoter, resulting metabolic reprogramming from OXPHOS to glycolysis, which mediated Cd-induced cell migration. This study potentially offers a new approach for prevention of lung cancer.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325011327CadmiumPHGDHHMGA2HIF-1αGlycolysis
spellingShingle Chunpeng Gao
Qiuxuan Xie
Li Li
Shengxiang Luo
Jianhui Fan
Jun Cao
HMGA2/PHGDH axis-mediated glycolysis under hypoxia is required for cadmium-induced A549 cell migration
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Cadmium
PHGDH
HMGA2
HIF-1α
Glycolysis
title HMGA2/PHGDH axis-mediated glycolysis under hypoxia is required for cadmium-induced A549 cell migration
title_full HMGA2/PHGDH axis-mediated glycolysis under hypoxia is required for cadmium-induced A549 cell migration
title_fullStr HMGA2/PHGDH axis-mediated glycolysis under hypoxia is required for cadmium-induced A549 cell migration
title_full_unstemmed HMGA2/PHGDH axis-mediated glycolysis under hypoxia is required for cadmium-induced A549 cell migration
title_short HMGA2/PHGDH axis-mediated glycolysis under hypoxia is required for cadmium-induced A549 cell migration
title_sort hmga2 phgdh axis mediated glycolysis under hypoxia is required for cadmium induced a549 cell migration
topic Cadmium
PHGDH
HMGA2
HIF-1α
Glycolysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325011327
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