The oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate produced by mutant IDH1 sensitizes cells to ferroptosis

Cell Death Dis. 2019 Oct 7;10(10):755. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1984-4.

Abstract

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of cell death characterized by the iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and is implicated in several human pathologies, such as tissue ischemia, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Ferroptosis appears to be high cell-context dependent and the regulation of ferroptosis by physiological or pathological conditions are unclear. Here, we report that tumor-derived IDH1 mutation sensitizes cells to ferroptosis. Deletion of the mutant IDH1 allele in IDH1 heterozygous tumor cells or pharmacological inhibition of mutant IDH1 to produce the oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2-HG) confers resistance to erastin-induced ferroptosis. Conversely, ectopic expression of mutant IDH1 or treatment of cells with cell-permeable D-2-HG promotes the accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequently ferroptosis. Mechanistically, mutant IDH1 reduces the protein level of the glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), a key enzyme in removing lipid ROS and ferroptosis, and promotes depletion of glutathione. Our results uncover a new role of mutant IDH1 and 2-HG in ferroptosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Ferroptosis / drug effects
  • Ferroptosis / genetics*
  • Glutarates / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Ischemia / genetics
  • Ischemia / pathology
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / genetics*
  • Lipid Peroxidation / genetics
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Nerve Degeneration / genetics
  • Nerve Degeneration / pathology
  • Piperazines / toxicity
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Glutarates
  • Piperazines
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • erastin
  • alpha-hydroxyglutarate
  • Iron
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase
  • IDH1 protein, human