Metformin Induces PRODH/POX-Dependent Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells

Although the antineoplastic activity of metformin (MET) is well established, the underlying mechanism of the activity is not understood. Since MET activates AMP kinase (AMPK) and proline dehydrogenase/proline oxidase (PRODH/POX) is stimulated by AMPK ligands (implicated in the regulation of cancer cell survival/apoptosis), the effect of MET on PRODH/POX-dependent apoptosis in wild-type MCF-7 cells (MCF-7(WT)) and POX knockdown MCF-7 cells (MCF-7(crPOX) cells) was studied. PRODH/POX catalyzes proline degradation generating ROS-induced apoptosis or autophagy. Availability of proline for PRODH/POX functions is regulated by the activity of prolidase (enzyme releasing proline from imidodipeptides), collagen biosynthesis (process consuming proline), and metabolism of proline, ornithine, and glutamic acid. We have found that MET is cytotoxic for MCF-7 cells (IC50 similar to 17 mM), and to the lower extent for MCF-7(crPOX) cells (IC50 similar to 28 mM). In MCF-7(WT) cells, the effect was accompanied by the inhibition of DNA biosynthesis, collagen biosynthesis, stimulation of ROS formation, AMPK alpha phosphorylation, and expression of prolidase, p53, caspase 8, caspase 9, and cleaved PARP. In MET-treated MCF-7(crPOX) cells, the processes were less affected than in MCF-7(WT) cells and the expression of caspase 9 was decreased, while cleaved caspase 8 and cleaved PARP were not detected. The effects were accompanied by an increase in the prolidase activity and proline concentration. The mechanism for MET-induced apoptosis involves the up-regulation of prolidase activity and a decrease in collagen biosynthesis contributing to an increase in the concentration of substrate (proline) for PRODH/POX-dependent ROS formation and activation of caspases -9 and -8. The data suggest that PRODH/POX participates in the MET-induced intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.