PKM2 Inhibitor(University of Shanghai for Science and Technology)

Chronic sympathetic stress contributes significantly to the cardiac hypertrophy (CH) development. Currently, several pharmacological agents and surgical options are available for the treatment of CH. However, available treatment options are associated with side effects and surgical complications. The published reports indicated the PKM2 substantial role in numerous illnesses. Furthermore, the effect of shikonin (SK), a nonselective PKM2 inhibitor, on PKM2/c-Myc/PTBP1/HIF-1α signaling in the CH model has never been explored. Thus, in this study, we explore the effect of SK on the PKM2-mediated c-Myc/PTBP1/HIF-1α signaling pathway in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced CH.

The preclinical rat model of pathological CH was developed by subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of ISO (5 mg/kg/day) over 14 days. ISO-treated rats were orally received SK (2 and 4 mg/kg/day) for a period of 14 days. After all treatment completion, animals were anesthetized for electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure, and ventricular function recording. Afterward, animal blood samples were isolated, and then animals were sacrificed for further molecular and histopathology studies.

Fourteen days treatment of SK showed significant improvement in ECG, fibrosis, inflammation, and cardiac function. Moreover, PKM2, PTBP1, c-Myc, and HIF-1α expressions were upregulated, while PKM1 expression was downregulated in ISO-treated rats, which was reversed by SK treatment in ISO-induced CH rats.

Thus, our results demonstrated that SK modulates the PKM2/c-Myc/PTBP1/HIF-1α pathway mediated by PKM2 inhibition, which might be responsible for SK-mediated cardioprotection in ISO-induced CH.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a thermoablative treatment for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has limited therapeutic benefit for advanced HCC patients with large, multiple, and/or irregular tumors owing to incomplete RFA (iRFA) of the tumor mass. It is first identified that iRFA‐treated tumors exhibited increased pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) expression, exacerbated tumor immunosuppression featured with increased tumor infiltration of suppressive immune cells and increased proliferation, and programmed cell death ligand 1 expression of cancer cell and ultimately a poor prognosis. Herein, a multifunctional nanomedicine is fabricated by encapsulating nanoassemblies of anti‐PD‐L1 and spermidine‐grafted oxidized dextran with shikonin‐containing lipid bilayers to reverse iRFA‐induced treatment failure. Shikonin, a PKM2 inhibitor, is used to suppress glycolysis in cancer cells, while anti‐PD‐L1 and spermidine are introduced to collectively reprogram the proliferation and functions of infiltrated CD8+ T lymphocytes. Combined with iRFA, which promoted the exposure of tumor antigens, the intravenous injection of liposomal SPS‐NPs effectively stimulated dendritic cell maturation and reversed tumor immunosuppression, thus eliciting potent antitumor immunity to synergistically suppress the growth of residual tumor masses and lung metastasis. The as‐prepared liposomal nanomedicine is promising for potentiating the therapeutic benefits of RFA toward advanced HCC patients through reprogramming iRFA‐induced tumor immunosuppression.