The Transcription Factor TEAD4 Enhances Lung Adenocarcinoma Malignancy through Enhancing PKM2 Mediated Glycolysis

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a deadly disease with a hallmark of aberrant metabolism. The role of TEAD4 in LUAD is rarely reported as well as its potential mechanisms. The expression level of TEAD4 and PKM2 was measured by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. Luciferase reporter assay were employed to verify the effect of TEAD4 on PKM2 promoter as well as TEAD4/PKM2 axis on reporter activity of HIF-1. Glycolysis was investigated according to glucose consumption, lactate production and the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to assess cell viability. The present study indicated that TEAD4 and PKM2 were upregulated in LUAD and closely related to prognosis. Mechanistic investigations identified that TEAD4 played a key role as a transcription factor and promoted PKM2 transcription and expression, which further altered the reporter activity of HIF-1 and upregulated HIF-1-targeted glycolytic genes GLUT1 and HK2. Functional assays revealed that TEAD4 and PKM2 affected glycolytic and 2-DG blocked the positive function of TEAD4 and PKM2 on glycolytic. Besides, TEAD4/PKM2 axis affects LUAD cells survival through glycolysis. Together, these data provided evidence that both TEAD4 and PKM2 were poor prognosticator. Targeting TEAD4/PKM2 axis might be an effective therapeutic strategy for LUAD.