Metabolic reprograming is an emerging hallmark of cancer cells. Changes in cellular metabolism can contribute to cancer cell survival and tumor progression. Tripartite motif-containing protein 24 (TRIM24) is an E3 ligase for p53, a nuclear receptor co-regulator, and a histone reader. Over expression of TRIM24 correlates with poor overall survival of breast cancer patients. Previously, our lab created a mouse model that conditionally over-expresses (COE) TRIM24 protein in mammary epithelia (Trim24COE) and develops carcinosarcoma or metaplastic mammary tumors (70% of all Trim24COE tumors), a rare and aggressive triple-negative subtype called metaplastic TNBC in humans (MpBC). RNA-sequencing revealed that Trim24COE mouse mammary tumors have upregulated glycolysis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Trim24COE carcinosarcoma cell-derived spheroids showed irregular, poorly differentiated structures that were more invasive compared to spontaneous, control MMTV-cre mammary tumor-derived spheroids. Using 13C6-glucose/glutamine tracing, we found Trim24COE spheroids recapitulated some of the metabolic features of Trim24COE carcinosarcomas like upregulated glycolysis and exhibited aberrantly upregulated antioxidant defenses. We found Trim24COE spheroids exhibited low intracellular and mitochondrial ROS, an increased NADP(H) pool, and were more resistant to oxidative stress. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunoblotting validated that enzymes of one-carbon metabolism and de novo glutathione synthesis pathways were upregulated in Trim24COE spheroids and that upregulation was depended on TRIM24 over expression. NRF2 is a key regulator of cellular antioxidant response and often found over expressed in many different types of cancers. Nrf2 mRNA level and NRF2 protein expression were both upregulated in the Trim24COE spheroids and knocking down TRIM24 significantly decreased Nrf2 expression as well as NRF2-regulated gene expression. Metabolic inhibitors that target enzymes in one-carbon metabolism and de novo glutathione synthesis effectively decreased Trim24COE spheroids viability. The effect of PHGDH inhibitor CBR5884, GLS inhibitors CB839, and GCLC inhibitor was enhanced with TRIM24 knock-down, indicating that TRIM24 plays a critical role in oxidation-reduction (REDOX)-related cell survival.
Here, with metabolomic studies, we uncovered the potential metabolic vulnerabilities in Trim24COE MpBC spheroids. TRIM24 over expression led to upregulated production of reducing equivalents which further reduce oxidative stress and increase antioxidant defense in Trim24COE spheroids. Targeting TRIM24 and the corresponding metabolic enzymes in combination could shed light on potential strategies for inhibiting tumor progression of TRIM24-overexpressing MpBC. The work described here supports further investigations of these pathways in MpBC, for which no targeted therapies exist.
","abstract_html":"<p>Metabolic reprograming is an emerging hallmark of cancer cells. Changes in cellular metabolism can contribute to cancer cell survival and tumor progression. Tripartite motif-containing protein 24 (TRIM24) is an E3 ligase for p53, a nuclear receptor co-regulator, and a histone reader. Over expression of TRIM24 correlates with poor overall survival of breast cancer patients. Previously, our lab created a mouse model that conditionally over-expresses (COE) TRIM24 protein in mammary epithelia (<em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup>) and develops carcinosarcoma or metaplastic mammary tumors (70% of all <em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup> tumors), a rare and aggressive triple-negative subtype called metaplastic TNBC in humans (MpBC). RNA-sequencing revealed that <em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup> mouse mammary tumors have upregulated glycolysis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). <em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup> carcinosarcoma cell-derived spheroids showed irregular, poorly differentiated structures that were more invasive compared to spontaneous, control MMTV-cre mammary tumor-derived spheroids. Using <sup>13</sup>C<sub>6</sub>-glucose/glutamine tracing, we found <em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup> spheroids recapitulated some of the metabolic features of <em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup> carcinosarcomas like upregulated glycolysis and exhibited aberrantly upregulated antioxidant defenses. We found <em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup> spheroids exhibited low intracellular and mitochondrial ROS, an increased NADP(H) pool, and were more resistant to oxidative stress. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunoblotting validated that enzymes of one-carbon metabolism and <em>de novo </em>glutathione synthesis pathways were upregulated in <em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup> spheroids and that upregulation was depended on TRIM24 over expression. NRF2 is a key regulator of cellular antioxidant response and often found over expressed in many different types of cancers. <em>Nrf2</em> mRNA level and NRF2 protein expression were both upregulated in the <em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup> spheroids and knocking down TRIM24 significantly decreased <em>Nrf2</em> expression as well as NRF2-regulated gene expression. Metabolic inhibitors that target enzymes in one-carbon metabolism and <em>de novo </em>glutathione synthesis effectively decreased <em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup> spheroids viability. The effect of PHGDH inhibitor CBR5884, GLS inhibitors CB839, and GCLC inhibitor was enhanced with TRIM24 knock-down, indicating that TRIM24 plays a critical role in oxidation-reduction (REDOX)-related cell survival.</p> <p>Here, with metabolomic studies, we uncovered the potential metabolic vulnerabilities in <em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup> MpBC spheroids. TRIM24 over expression led to upregulated production of reducing equivalents which further reduce oxidative stress and increase antioxidant defense in <em>Trim24</em><sup>COE</sup> spheroids. Targeting TRIM24 and the corresponding metabolic enzymes in combination could shed light on potential strategies for inhibiting tumor progression of TRIM24-overexpressing MpBC. The work described here supports further investigations of these pathways in MpBC, for which no targeted therapies exist.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Miao, Shucheng","https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7306-0966
"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Masters of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Thesis (MS)","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Michelle Barton and Guillermina Lozano","Powel Brown","Went Li"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-08-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2021-08-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:48:47Z","subjects":["metaplastic breast cancer","metabolism","ROS","redox","NADPH","Medicine and Health Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1131","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Michelle Barton and Guillermina Lozano","Powel Brown","Went Li"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Miao, Shucheng","https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7306-0966
"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2022-08-06T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis (MS)"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Masters of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["metaplastic breast cancer","metabolism","ROS","redox","NADPH","Medicine and Health Sciences"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1131"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Metabolic reprograming is an emerging hallmark of cancer cells. Changes in cellular metabolism can contribute to cancer cell survival and tumor progression. Tripartite motif-containing protein 24 (TRIM24) is an E3 ligase for p53, a nuclear receptor co-regulator, and a histone reader. Over expression of TRIM24 correlates with poor overall survival of breast cancer patients. Previously, our lab created a mouse model that conditionally over-expresses (COE) TRIM24 protein in mammary epithelia (Trim24COE) and develops carcinosarcoma or metaplastic mammary tumors (70% of all Trim24COE tumors), a rare and aggressive triple-negative subtype called metaplastic TNBC in humans (MpBC). RNA-sequencing revealed that Trim24COE mouse mammary tumors have upregulated glycolysis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Trim24COE carcinosarcoma cell-derived spheroids showed irregular, poorly differentiated structures that were more invasive compared to spontaneous, control MMTV-cre mammary tumor-derived spheroids. Using 13C6-glucose/glutamine tracing, we found Trim24COE spheroids recapitulated some of the metabolic features of Trim24COE carcinosarcomas like upregulated glycolysis and exhibited aberrantly upregulated antioxidant defenses. We found Trim24COE spheroids exhibited low intracellular and mitochondrial ROS, an increased NADP(H) pool, and were more resistant to oxidative stress. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunoblotting validated that enzymes of one-carbon metabolism and de novo glutathione synthesis pathways were upregulated in Trim24COE spheroids and that upregulation was depended on TRIM24 over expression. NRF2 is a key regulator of cellular antioxidant response and often found over expressed in many different types of cancers. Nrf2 mRNA level and NRF2 protein expression were both upregulated in the Trim24COE spheroids and knocking down TRIM24 significantly decreased Nrf2 expression as well as NRF2-regulated gene expression. Metabolic inhibitors that target enzymes in one-carbon metabolism and de novo glutathione synthesis effectively decreased Trim24COE spheroids viability. The effect of PHGDH inhibitor CBR5884, GLS inhibitors CB839, and GCLC inhibitor was enhanced with TRIM24 knock-down, indicating that TRIM24 plays a critical role in oxidation-reduction (REDOX)-related cell survival.
Here, with metabolomic studies, we uncovered the potential metabolic vulnerabilities in Trim24COE MpBC spheroids. TRIM24 over expression led to upregulated production of reducing equivalents which further reduce oxidative stress and increase antioxidant defense in Trim24COE spheroids. Targeting TRIM24 and the corresponding metabolic enzymes in combination could shed light on potential strategies for inhibiting tumor progression of TRIM24-overexpressing MpBC. The work described here supports further investigations of these pathways in MpBC, for which no targeted therapies exist.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Trim24 Promotes Mammary Tumor Development By Upregulating Metabolic Reducing Power"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Michelle Barton and Guillermina Lozano","Powel Brown","Went Li"],"dc:creator":["Miao, Shucheng","https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7306-0966
"],"dc:date.available":["2022-08-06T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Metabolic reprograming is an emerging hallmark of cancer cells. Changes in cellular metabolism can contribute to cancer cell survival and tumor progression. Tripartite motif-containing protein 24 (TRIM24) is an E3 ligase for p53, a nuclear receptor co-regulator, and a histone reader. Over expression of TRIM24 correlates with poor overall survival of breast cancer patients. Previously, our lab created a mouse model that conditionally over-expresses (COE) TRIM24 protein in mammary epithelia (Trim24COE) and develops carcinosarcoma or metaplastic mammary tumors (70% of all Trim24COE tumors), a rare and aggressive triple-negative subtype called metaplastic TNBC in humans (MpBC). RNA-sequencing revealed that Trim24COE mouse mammary tumors have upregulated glycolysis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Trim24COE carcinosarcoma cell-derived spheroids showed irregular, poorly differentiated structures that were more invasive compared to spontaneous, control MMTV-cre mammary tumor-derived spheroids. Using 13C6-glucose/glutamine tracing, we found Trim24COE spheroids recapitulated some of the metabolic features of Trim24COE carcinosarcomas like upregulated glycolysis and exhibited aberrantly upregulated antioxidant defenses. We found Trim24COE spheroids exhibited low intracellular and mitochondrial ROS, an increased NADP(H) pool, and were more resistant to oxidative stress. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunoblotting validated that enzymes of one-carbon metabolism and de novo glutathione synthesis pathways were upregulated in Trim24COE spheroids and that upregulation was depended on TRIM24 over expression. NRF2 is a key regulator of cellular antioxidant response and often found over expressed in many different types of cancers. Nrf2 mRNA level and NRF2 protein expression were both upregulated in the Trim24COE spheroids and knocking down TRIM24 significantly decreased Nrf2 expression as well as NRF2-regulated gene expression. Metabolic inhibitors that target enzymes in one-carbon metabolism and de novo glutathione synthesis effectively decreased Trim24COE spheroids viability. The effect of PHGDH inhibitor CBR5884, GLS inhibitors CB839, and GCLC inhibitor was enhanced with TRIM24 knock-down, indicating that TRIM24 plays a critical role in oxidation-reduction (REDOX)-related cell survival.
Here, with metabolomic studies, we uncovered the potential metabolic vulnerabilities in Trim24COE MpBC spheroids. TRIM24 over expression led to upregulated production of reducing equivalents which further reduce oxidative stress and increase antioxidant defense in Trim24COE spheroids. Targeting TRIM24 and the corresponding metabolic enzymes in combination could shed light on potential strategies for inhibiting tumor progression of TRIM24-overexpressing MpBC. The work described here supports further investigations of these pathways in MpBC, for which no targeted therapies exist.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1131"],"dc:subject":["metaplastic breast cancer","metabolism","ROS","redox","NADPH","Medicine and Health Sciences"],"dc:title":["Trim24 Promotes Mammary Tumor Development By Upregulating Metabolic Reducing Power"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis (MS)"],"thesis:degree_name":["Masters of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:48:47Z"}