L-arginine combination with 5-fluorouracil inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma cells through suppressing iNOS/NO/AKT-mediated glycolysis. (PubMed, Front Pharmacol)
LY294002 treatment further reduced the expression of GLUT1, PKM2, and LDHA proteins induced by combined L-arginine and 5-FU treatment compared to the combined group. Moreover, the simultaneous administration of L-arginine and 5-FU significantly improved the gross morphology of the liver, reduced nuclear atypia, inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells, and decreased the expression levels of p-PI3K, p-AKT, GLUT1, PKM2, and LDHA, while iNOS expression was increased in the combination group. Taking together, L-arginine and 5-FU combination resulted in the inhibition of enzymes in aerobic glycolysis via the iNOS/NO/AKT pathway, which led to the suppression of glucose metabolism and downregulation of nuclear transcription factors, thereby impeding the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.