Metabolomic and Lipidomic Analysis of the Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cell Line HT29 in Hypoxia and Reoxygenation

Abstract

The poor availability of oxygen and nutrients in malignant tumors drives the activation of various molecular responses and metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells. Hypoxic tumor regions often exhibit resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. One approach to enhance cancer therapy is to indirectly increase tumor oxygen availability through targeted metabolic reprogramming. Thus, understanding the underlying metabolic changes occurring during hypoxia and reoxygenation is crucial for improving therapy efficacy. In this study, we utilized the HT29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line as a hypoxia–reoxygenation model to investigate central carbon and lipid metabolism. Through quantitative NMR spectroscopy and flow injection analysis – differential mobility spectroscopy—tandem mass spectrometry (FIA-DMS-MS/MS) analysis, we observed alterations in components of mitochondrial metabolism, redox status, specific lipid classes, and structural characteristics of lipids during hypoxia and up to 24 h of reoxygenation. These findings contribute to our understanding of the metabolic changes occurring during reoxygenation and provide the basis for functional studies aimed at metabolic pathways in cancer cells.