CRKL promotes hepatocarcinoma through enhancing glucose metabolism of cancer cells via activating PI3K/Akt

Abstract Abnormal glucose metabolism may contribute to cancer progression. As a member of the CRK (v‐crk sarcoma virus CT10 oncogene homologue) adapter protein family, CRKL (CRK‐like) associated with the development and progression of various tumours. However, the exact role and underlying mechanism of CRKL on energy metabolism remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of CRKL on glucose metabolism of hepatocarcinoma cells. CRKL and PI3K were found to be overexpressed in both hepatocarcinoma cells and tissues; meanwhile, CRKL up‐regulation was positively correlated with PI3K up‐regulation. Functional investigations revealed that CRKL overexpression promoted glucose uptake, lactate production and glycogen synthesis of hepatocarcinoma cells by up‐regulating glucose transporters 1 (GLUT1), hexokinase II (HKII) expression and down‐regulating glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) expression. Mechanistically, CRKL promoted glucose metabolism of hepatocarcinoma cells via enhancing the CRKL‐PI3K/Akt‐GLUT1/HKII‐glucose uptake, CRKL‐PI3K/Akt‐HKII‐glucose‐lactate production and CRKL‐PI3K/Akt‐Gsk3β‐glycogen synthesis. We demonstrate CRKL facilitates HCC malignancy via enhancing glucose uptake, lactate production and glycogen synthesis through PI3K/Akt pathway. It provides interesting fundamental clues to CRKL‐related carcinogenesis through glucose metabolism and offers novel therapeutic strategies for hepatocarcinoma.