Abstract

Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) is a pivotal metabolic enzyme involved in arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism and cancer metabolic reprogramming, which plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of glioblastoma (GBM). We integrated single-cell and transcriptome data to characterize AA metabolism features in GBM and identify the key gene AKR1C3. Using CCK8 assays, wound-healing assays, transwell assays, and mouse tumor formation experiments, we elucidated the effects of AKR1C3. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and ChIP-PCR experiments were performed to investigate the regulation of transcription factor JUN on AKR1C3 expression. RNA-seq analysis, combined with rescue experiments, demonstrated that AKR1C3 significantly regulates the RhoA/ROCK pathway. Arachidonic acid metabolism is closely associated with clinical outcomes in glioma, with AKR1C3 identified as a key gene within this pathway. AKR1C3 knockdown enhanced tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas AKR1C3 overexpression suppressed these malignant behaviors. In vivo experiments further confirmed the inhibitory effect of AKR1C3 on glioma progression. Dual-luciferase reporter and ChIP-PCR assays demonstrated that JUN acts as an upstream regulator of AKR1C3. ELISA results indicated that AKR1C3 overexpression reduced cellular PGD2 levels. RNA-seq analysis suggested that the RhoA/ROCK pathway was a downstream effector of AKR1C3, and exogenous PGD2 supplementation could reverse AKR1C3-mediated regulation of this pathway. We identified curcumin, a natural product with anti-cancer metabolic regulatory activity, as an upstream modulator that suppresses JUN expression, thereby activating the JUN/AKR1C3 axis and inhibiting malignant phenotypes in GBM cells. JUN/AKR1C3 axis influences glioma progression via modulating PGD2-mediated RhoA/ROCK Signaling.