The YY1-CPT1C signaling axis modulates the proliferation and metabolism of pancreatic tumor cells under hypoxia.

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1C (CPT1C) is an enzyme that regulates tumor cell proliferation and metabolism by modulating mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism. Hypoxia, commonly observed in solid tumors, promotes the proliferation and progression of pancreatic cancer by regulating the metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells. So far, the metabolic regulation of hypoxic tumor cells by CPT1C and the upstream mechanisms of CPT1C remain poorly understood. Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a crucial oncogene for pancreatic tumorigenesis and acts as a transcription factor that is involved in multiple metabolic processes. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between YY1 and CPT1C under hypoxic conditions and explore their roles in hypoxia-induced proliferation and metabolic alterations of tumor cells. The results showed enhancements in the proliferation and metabolism of PANC-1 cells under hypoxia, as evidenced by increased cell growth, cellular ATP levels, up-regulation of mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreased lipid content. Interestingly, knockdown of YY1 or CPT1C inhibited hypoxia-induced rapid cell proliferation and vigorous cell metabolism. Importantly, for the first time, we reported that YY1 directly activated the transcription of CPT1C and clarified that CPT1C was a novel target gene of YY1. Moreover, the YY1 and CPT1C were found to synergistically regulate the proliferation and metabolism of hypoxic cells through transfection with YY1 siRNA to CRISPR/Cas9-CPT1C knockout PANC-1 cells. Taken together, these results indicated that the YY1-CPT1C axis could be a new target for the intervention of pancreatic cancer proliferation and metabolism.