Hypoxia-driven oncometabolite L-2HG maintains “stemness”-differentiation balance and facilitates immune suppression in pancreatic cancer

2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) has gained considerable importance in glioma and blood cancers that have mutations in the IDH1/2 gene. In the current study we show for the first time that pancreatic tumors produce 2HG in the absence of IDH1/2 mutation. Our study shows that hypoxic pancreatic tumors that have activated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, produce the L-isoform of 2HG. Metabolic mass spectrometric analysis along with chiral derivatization showed that pancreatic cancer cells as well as stromal cells secrete the L-isomeric form of 2-hydroxyglutarate (L-2HG) when exposed to hypoxic environment. Serum analysis of human pancreatic cancer patients also showed similar accumulation of L-2HG. Our results showed that this abnormally accumulated L-2HG regulates self-renewal by increasing expression of genes associated with stemness (Sox-2, CD133) and by decreasing expression of differentiation genes (Pdx-1, HB9, NKX6.1). Further analysis showed that secreted L-2HG mediates cross talk with immune T-cells and hampers their proliferation and migration thereby suppressing the anti-tumor immunity. In vivo targeting of LDH enzyme with inhibitor (GSK2837808A) showed decrease in L-2HG as well as subsequent tumor regression and sensitization to immune-checkpoint therapy. Present study shows for the first time that hypoxia mediated accumulation of L-2HG drives self-renewal in pancreatic cancer by shifting critical balance of gene expression towards stemness and promotes immune suppression by impairing T cell activation in this disease. Additionally, it indicates that targeting LDH can sensitize pancreatic tumors to anti-PD1 therapy by decreasing L-2HG and reverting their immune evasive function.