Tanshinone IIA alleviates pulmonary fibrosis by modulating glutamine metabolic reprogramming based on [U-13C5]-glutamine metabolic flux analysis

Introduction: Glutamine metabolic reprogramming, mediated by Glutaminase (GLS), is an important signal during pulmonary fibrosis (PF) progression. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a naturally lipophilic diterpene with antioxidant and antifibrotic properties. However, the potential mechanisms of Tan IIA for regulating glutamine metabolic reprogramming are not yet clear.

Objectives: This study aimed was to evaluate the role of Tan IIA in intervening in glutamine metabolic reprogramming to exert anti-PF and to explore the potential new mechanisms of metabolic regulation.

Methods: Fibrotic characteristics was detected via immunofluorescence and western blotting analysis. Cell proliferation was examined with EdU Assay. Cell metabolites were labeled by using stable isotope [U-¹³C₅]-glutamine. By utilizing 100% ¹³C glutamine tracers and employing network analysis to investigate the activation of metabolic pathways in fibroblasts, as well as evaluating the impact of Tan IIA on these pathways, we accurately quantified the absolute flux of glutaminolysis, proline synthesis, and the TCA cycle pathway using isotopomer network compartmental analysis (INCA), a user-friendly software tool for ¹³C metabolic flux analysis (¹³C-MFA). Molecular docking was used for identifying the binding of Tan IIA with target protein.

Results: Tan IIA ameliorate TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast proliferation, reduce collagen I and III and α-SMA protein expression in MRC-5 and NIH-3 T3 cells. Furthermore, Tan IIA regulate mitochondrial energy metabolism by modulating TGF-β1-stimulated glutamine metabolic reprogramming in NIH-3 T3 cells and inhibiting GLS1 expression, which reduced the metabolic flux of glutamine into mitochondria in myofibroblasts, and also targeted inhibited the expression of Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), P5C reductase 1 (PYCR1), and phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1), and reduced proline hydroxylation and blocked the collagen synthesis pathway.

Conclusion: Tan IIA reverses glutamine metabolic reprogramming, reduces mitochondrial energy expenditure, and inhibits collagen matrix synthesis by modulating potential targets in glutamine metabolism. This novel perspective sheds light on the essential role of glutamine metabolic reprogramming in PF.

(13)C metabolic flux analysis; Cellular energy metabolism; Glutamine metabolic reprogramming; Pulmonary fibrosis; Tanshinone IIA; [U-(13)C(5)]-glutamine.