Background:The regulation of glucose metabolism by estradiol is poorly defined. Results: We find that estradiol stimulates glucose metabolism in part by stimulating the production of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate by PFKFB3. Conclusion: PFKFB3 is a downstream target of estradiol required to stimulate glucose metabolism. Significance: Combined targeting of PFKFB3 and the estrogen receptor may prove beneficial to ER ϩ stage IV breast cancer patients.

Background-Although inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is known to impart powerful protection against myocardial infarction, the mechanism for this salubrious action remains unclear. Methods and Results-Adenovirus-mediated iNOS gene transfer in mice resulted 48 to 72 hours later in increased expression not only of iNOS protein but also of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 mRNA and protein; HO-2 protein expression did not change. iNOS gene transfer markedly reduced infarct size in wild-type mice, but this effect was completely abrogated in HO-1 Ϫ/Ϫ mice. At 48 hours after iNOS gene transfer, nuclear factor-B was markedly activated. In transgenic mice with cardiomyocyte-restricted expression of a dominant negative mutant of IB␣ (IB␣ S32A,S36A ), both basal HO-1 levels and upregulation of HO-1 by iNOS gene transfer were suppressed. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis of mouse hearts provided direct evidence that nuclear factor-B subunits p50 and p65 were recruited to the HO-1 gene promoter (Ϫ468 to Ϫ459 bp) 48 hours after iNOS gene transfer. Conclusions-This study demonstrates for the first time the existence of a close functional coupling between cardiac iNOSand cardiac HO-1: iNOS upregulates HO-1 by augmenting nuclear factor-B binding to the region of the HO-1 gene promoter from Ϫ468 to Ϫ459 bp, and HO-1 then mediates the cardioprotective effects of iNOS. These results also reveal an important role of nuclear factor-B in both basal and iNOS-induced expression of cardiac HO-1. Collectively, the present findings significantly expand our understanding of the regulation of cardiac HO-1 and of the mechanism whereby iNOS exerts its cardioprotective actions. (Circulation. 2009;120:1222-1230.)

Induction or ectopic overexpression of HO-1 (haem oxygenase 1) protects against a wide variety of disorders. These protective effects have been variably ascribed to generation of carbon monoxide (released during cleavage of the alpha-methene bridge of haem) and/or to production of the antioxidant bilirubin. We investigated HO-1-overexpressing A549 cells and find that, as expected, HO-1-overexpressing cells are resistant to killing by hydrogen peroxide. Surprisingly, these cells have approximately twice the normal amount of intracellular iron which usually tends to amplify oxidant killing. However, HO-1-overexpressing cells contain only ~25% as much 'loose' (probably redox active) iron. Indeed, inhibition of ferritin synthesis [via siRNA (small interfering RNA) directed at the ferritin heavy chain] sensitizes the HO-1-overexpressing cells to peroxide killing. It appears that HO-1 overexpression leads to enhanced destruction of haem, consequent 2-3-fold induction of ferritin, and compensatory increases in transferrin receptor expression and haem synthesis. However, there is no functional haem deficiency because cellular oxygen consumption and catalase activity are similar in both cell types. We conclude that, at least in many cases, the cytoprotective effects of HO-1 induction or forced overexpression may derive from elevated expression of ferritin and consequent reduction of redox active 'loose' iron.

Human tumors exhibit increased glucose uptake and metabolism as a result of high demand for ATP and anabolic substrates and this metabolotype is a negative prognostic indicator for survival. Recent studies have demonstrated that cancer cells from several tissue origins and genetic backgrounds require the expression of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4), a regulatory enzyme that synthesizes an allosteric activator of glycolysis, fructose-2,6-bisphosphate. We report the discovery of a first-in-class PFKFB4 inhibitor, 5-(n-(8-methoxy-4-quinolyl)amino)pentyl nitrate (5MPN), using structure-based virtual computational screening. We find that 5MPN is a selective inhibitor of PFKFB4 that suppresses the glycolysis and proliferation of multiple human cancer cell lines but not non-transformed epithelial cells in vitro. Importantly, 5MPN has high oral bioavailability and per os administration of a non-toxic dose of 5MPN suppresses the glucose metabolism and growth of tumors in mice.