Squalene epoxidase-induced cholesteryl ester accumulation promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma development by activating PI3K/AKT signaling.

ABSTRACT: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor and a major cause of mortality and morbidity in southern China. However, the mechanism is still elusive. Here, we focused on studying the role of squalene epoxidase (SQLE), a key enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis, in the progression of NPC. Clinical study revealed that SQLE expression was significantly upregulated in NPC tissues compared to normal tissues from mRNA level and patients with high expression of SQLE showed a poor prognosis. In vitro experiments showed that SQLE overexpression led to a significant proliferation of cells whereas SQLE knockdown showed an opposite result. In vivo studies also showed that SQLE promoted tumor growth in nude mice. Further study revealed that SQLE promoted NPC proliferation by cholesteryl est

SUBMITTER: Li L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7484843 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature