2. Academic Validation
  3. Super-enhancer-associated INSM2 regulates lipid metabolism by modulating mTOR signaling pathway in neuroblastoma

Super-enhancer-associated INSM2 regulates lipid metabolism by modulating mTOR signaling pathway in neuroblastoma

  • Cell Biosci. 2022 Sep 16;12(1):158. doi: 10.1186/s13578-022-00895-3.
Haibo Cao  # 1,  Ran Zhuo  # 1,  Zimu Zhang  # 1,  Jianwei Wang  # 1,  Yanfang Tao 1,  Randong Yang 1 2,  Xinyi Guo 3,  Yanling Chen 1,  Siqi Jia 1,  Ye Yao 1 4,  Pengcheng Yang 1 4,  Juanjuan Yu 1,  Wanyan Jiao 1,  Xiaolu Li 1,  Fang Fang 1,  Yi Xie 1,  Gen Li 1,  Di Wu 1,  Hairong Wang 1,  Chenxi Feng 1,  Yunyun Xu 1,  Zhiheng Li 1,  Jian Pan 5,  Jian Wang 6 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 92 Zhongnan Street, Suzhou, 215003, China.
  • 2 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 92 Zhongnan Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215025, China.
  • 3 Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
  • 4 Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, 225000, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
  • 5 Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 92 Zhongnan Street, Suzhou, 215003, China. [email protected].
  • 6 Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 92 Zhongnan Street, Suzhou, 215003, China. [email protected].
  • 7 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No. 92 Zhongnan Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215025, China. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 36114560 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00895-3
Abstract

Background: Abnormal lipid metabolism is one of the most prominent metabolic changes in Cancer. Studies have shown that lipid metabolism also plays an important role in neuroblastoma. We recently discovered that the insulinoma-associated 2 gene (INSM2) could regulate lipid metabolism in neuroblastoma (NB) and is improperly controlled by super enhancers, a mammalian genome region that has been shown to control the expression of NB cell identity genes. However, the specific molecular pathways by which INSM2 leads to NB disease development are unknown.

Results: We identified INSM2 as a gene regulated by super enhancers in NB. In addition, INSM2 expression levels were significantly upregulated in NB and correlated with poor prognosis in patients. We found that INSM2 drives the growth of NB cell lines both in vitro and in vivo. Knocking down INSM2 inhibited fatty acid metabolism in NB cells. Mechanistically, INSM2 regulates the expression of SREBP1 by regulating the mTOR signaling pathway, which in turn affects lipid metabolism, thereby mediating the occurrence and development of neuroblastoma.

Conclusion: INSM2 as a super-enhancer-associated gene could regulates lipid metabolism by modulating mTOR signaling pathway in neuroblastoma.

Keywords

INSM2; Lipid metabolism; Neuroblastoma; SREBP1; Super-enhancer; mTOR.

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