Redox Biology (Dec 2021)

The sulfiredoxin-peroxiredoxin redox system regulates the stemness and survival of colon cancer stem cells

  • In-Sung Song,
  • Yu Jeong Jeong,
  • Yena Jung,
  • Young-Ho Park,
  • Sungbo Shim,
  • Sung Joo Kim,
  • Dae-Woon Eom,
  • Seung-Mo Hong,
  • Peter C.W. Lee,
  • Sun-Uk Kim,
  • Sung-Wuk Jang

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 48
p. 102190

Abstract

Read online

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) initiate tumor formation and are known to be resistant to chemotherapy. A metabolic alteration in CSCs plays a critical role in stemness and survival. However, the association between mitochondrial energy metabolism and the redox system remains undefined in colon CSCs. In this study, we assessed the role of the Sulfiredoxin-Peroxiredoxin (Srx-Prx) redox system and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in maintaining the stemness and survival of colon CSCs. Notably, Srx contributed to the stability of PrxI, PrxII, and PrxIII proteins in colon CSCs. Increased Srx expression promoted the stemness and survival of CSCs and was important for the maintenance of the mitochondrial OXPHOS system. Furthermore, Nrf2 and FoxM1 led to OXPHOS activation and upregulated expression of Srx-Prx redox system-related genes. Therefore, the Nrf2/FoxM1-induced Srx-Prx redox system is a potential therapeutic target for eliminating CSCs in colon cancer.

Keywords