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Gan CJ, Zheng Y, Yang B, Cao LM. Comprehensive prognostic and immune analysis of sterol O-acyltransferase 1 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Hepatol 2024; 16:439-451. [PMID: 38577529 PMCID: PMC10989313 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i3.439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sterol O-acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1) is an important target in the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. However, the prognostic value of SOAT1 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still not clear. AIM To investigate the correlation of SOAT1 expression with HCC, using RNA-seq and gene expression data of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) and pan-cancer. METHODS The correlation between SOAT1 expression and HCC was analyzed. Cox hazard regression models were conducted to investigate the prognostic value of SOAT1 in HCC. Overall survival and disease-specific survival were explored based on TCGA-LIHC data. Biological processes and functional pathways mediated by SOAT1 were characterized by gene ontology (GO) analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of differentially expressed genes. In addition, the protein-protein interaction network and co-expression analyses of SOAT1 in HCC were performed to better understand the regulatory mechanisms of SOAT1 in this malignancy. RESULTS SOAT1 and SOAT2 were highly expressed in unpaired samples, while only SOAT1 was highly expressed in paired samples. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of SOAT1 expression in tumor samples from LIHC patients compared with para-carcinoma tissues was 0.748, while the area under the curve of SOAT1 expression in tumor samples from LIHC patients compared with GTEx was 0.676. Patients with higher SOAT1 expression had lower survival rates. Results from GO/KEGG and gene set enrichment analyses suggested that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, the IL-18 signaling pathway, the calcium signaling pathway, secreted factors, the Wnt signaling pathway, the Jak/STAT signaling pathway, the MAPK family signaling pathway, and cell-cell communication were involved in such association. SOAT1 expression was positively associated with the abundance of macrophages, Th2 cells, T helper cells, CD56bright natural killer cells, and Th1 cells, and negatively linked to the abundance of Th17 cells, dendritic cells, and cytotoxic cells. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that SOAT1 may serve as a novel target for HCC treatment, which is helpful for the development of new strategies for immunotherapy and metabolic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Jiao Gan
- Development Research Department, National Medical Products Administration Institute of Executive Development, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yue Zheng
- School of Medicine, Nankai University Affiliated Third Center Hospital, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Tianjin Institute of Hepatobiliary Disease, The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin 300170, China
| | - Li-Min Cao
- Department of Science and Technology, Tianjin Third Central Hospital, Tianjin 300170, China.
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Wu K, Lin F. Lipid Metabolism as a Potential Target of Liver Cancer. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:327-346. [PMID: 38375401 PMCID: PMC10875169 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s450423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as a severe malignant tumor with a profound impact on overall health, often accompanied by an unfavorable prognosis. Despite some advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, improving the prognosis of HCC remains a formidable challenge. It is noteworthy that lipid metabolism plays a pivotal role in the onset, development, and progression of tumor cells. Existing research indicates the potential application of targeting lipid metabolism in the treatment of HCC. This review aims to thoroughly explore the alterations in lipid metabolism in HCC, offering a detailed account of the potential advantages associated with innovative therapeutic strategies targeting lipid metabolism. Targeting lipid metabolism holds promise for potentially enhancing the prognosis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangze Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Feizhuan Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, People’s Republic of China
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Cao D, Liu H. Dysregulated cholesterol regulatory genes in hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Med Res 2023; 28:580. [PMID: 38071335 PMCID: PMC10710719 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01547-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol is an indispensable component in mammalian cells, and cholesterol metabolism performs important roles in various biological activities. In addition to the Warburg effect, dysregulated cholesterol metabolism is one of the metabolic hallmarks of several cancers. It has reported that reprogrammed cholesterol metabolism facilitates carcinogenesis, metastasis, and drug-resistant in various tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Some literatures have reported that increased cholesterol level leads to lipotoxicity, inflammation, and fibrosis, ultimately promoting the development and progression of HCC. Contrarily, other clinical investigations have demonstrated a link between higher cholesterol level and lower risk of HCC. These incongruent findings suggest that the connection between cholesterol and HCC is much complicated. In this report, we summarize the roles of key cholesterol regulatory genes including cholesterol biosynthesis, uptake, efflux, trafficking and esterification in HCC. In addition, we discuss promising related therapeutic targets for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Cao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, No. 1 the South of Maoyuan Road, Nanchong, 637000, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Liu
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Ye J, Pang Y, Yang X, Zhang C, Shi L, Chen Z, Huang G, Wang X, Lu F. PPIH gene regulation system and its prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive analysis. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:11448-11470. [PMID: 37874737 PMCID: PMC10637785 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peptidyl-prolyl isomerase H (PPIH) is a member of the cyclophilin protein family, which functions as a molecular chaperone and is involved in the splicing of pre-mRNA. According to reports, the malignant progression of HCC related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) is tightly associated with RNA-binding proteins. Nevertheless, there is no research on PPIH expression or its function in the occurrence and progression of HCC. RESULTS We are the first to reveal that the mRNA and protein levels of Ppih are substantially overexpressed in HCC, as the outcomes show. A significant correlation existed between enriched expression of Ppih within HCC and more advanced, poorly differentiated, and TP53-mutated tumors. CONCLUSION These findings, which suggest that Ppih may serve as a predictive biomarker for people with HCC, serve as a starting point for further investigation into the function of Ppih in the progression of carcinogenesis. METHODS Accordingly, we utilized clinical samples and bioinformatics analysis to assess Ppih's mRNA, protein expression, and gene regulatory system in HCC. Additionally, Wilcoxon signed-rank testing and logistic regression were utilized to inspect the association between clinicopathological factors and Ppih. Clinical pathological traits linked to overall survival (OS) among HCC patients were examined via TCGA data via Cox regression and the Kaplan-Meier approach. Additionally, via TCGA data collection, gene set enrichment assessment was also conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ye
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Kaili, Guizhou 556000, China
| | - Yilin Pang
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Xunjun Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Chuan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Kaili, Guizhou 556000, China
| | - Lei Shi
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Kaili, Guizhou 556000, China
| | - Zhitao Chen
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Kaili, Guizhou 556000, China
| | - Guijia Huang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Kaili, Guizhou 556000, China
| | - Xianhe Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Kaili, Guizhou 556000, China
| | - Fangyang Lu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Kaili, Guizhou 556000, China
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Tu T, Zhang H, Xu H. Targeting sterol-O-acyltransferase 1 to disrupt cholesterol metabolism for cancer therapy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1197502. [PMID: 37409263 PMCID: PMC10318190 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1197502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol esterification is often dysregulated in cancer. Sterol O-acyl-transferase 1 (SOAT1) plays an important role in maintaining cellular cholesterol homeostasis by catalyzing the formation of cholesterol esters from cholesterol and long-chain fatty acids in cells. Many studies have implicated that SOAT1 plays a vital role in cancer initiation and progression and is an attractive target for novel anticancer therapy. In this review, we provide an overview of the mechanism and regulation of SOAT1 in cancer and summarize the updates of anticancer therapy targeting SOAT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Tu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongying Zhang
- Laboratory of Oncogene, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huanji Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Bhattacharjee P, Rutland N, Iyer MR. Targeting Sterol O-Acyltransferase/Acyl-CoA:Cholesterol Acyltransferase (ACAT): A Perspective on Small-Molecule Inhibitors and Their Therapeutic Potential. J Med Chem 2022; 65:16062-16098. [PMID: 36473091 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Sterol O-acyltransferase (SOAT) is a membrane-bound enzyme that aids the esterification of cholesterol and fatty acids to cholesterol esters. SOAT has been studied extensively as a potential drug target, since its inhibition can serve as an alternative to statin therapy. Two SOAT isozymes that have discrete functions in the human body, namely, SOAT1 and SOAT2, have been characterized. Over three decades of research has focused on candidate SOAT1 inhibitors with unsatisfactory results in clinical trials. Recent research has focused on targeting SOAT2 selectively. In this perspective, we summarize the literature covering various SOAT inhibitory agents and discuss the design, structural requirements, and mode of action of SOAT inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinaki Bhattacharjee
- Section on Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20852, United States
| | - Nicholas Rutland
- Section on Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20852, United States
| | - Malliga R Iyer
- Section on Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 5625 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20852, United States
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Kou Y, Geng F, Guo D. Lipid Metabolism in Glioblastoma: From De Novo Synthesis to Storage. Biomedicines 2022; 10:1943. [PMID: 36009491 PMCID: PMC9405736 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor. With limited therapeutic options, novel therapies are desperately needed. Recent studies have shown that GBM acquires large amounts of lipids for rapid growth through activation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), a master transcription factor that regulates fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, and cholesterol uptake. Interestingly, GBM cells divert substantial quantities of lipids into lipid droplets (LDs), a specific storage organelle for neutral lipids, to prevent lipotoxicity by increasing the expression of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) and sterol-O-acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1), which convert excess fatty acids and cholesterol to triacylglycerol and cholesteryl esters, respectively. In this review, we will summarize recent progress on our understanding of lipid metabolism regulation in GBM to promote tumor growth and discuss novel strategies to specifically induce lipotoxicity to tumor cells through disrupting lipid storage, a promising new avenue for treating GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Kou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, College of Medicine at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43012, USA
| | - Feng Geng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, College of Medicine at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43012, USA
| | - Deliang Guo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, College of Medicine at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43012, USA
- Center for Cancer Metabolism, James Comprehensive Cancer Center at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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