Lysosomal acid lipase promotes cholesterol ester metabolism and drives clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized histologically by accumulation of cholesterol esters, cholesterol and other neutral lipids. Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) is a critical enzyme involved in the cholesterol ester metabolism. Here, we sought to determine whether LAL could orchestrate metabolism of cholesterol esters in order to promote ccRCC progression.

Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR and western blots were conducted to assess the expression of LAL in human ccRCC tissues. We analysed the relationship between LAL levels and patient survival using tissue microarrays. We used cell proliferation assays, colony formation assays, cell death assays, metabolic assays and xenograft tumour models to evaluate the biological function and underlying mechanisms.

LAL was up-regulated in ccRCC tissue. Tissue microarray analysis revealed higher levels of LAL in advanced grades of ccRCC, and high LAL expression indicated lower patient survival. Suppressing LAL expression not only blocked the utilization of cholesterol esters but also impaired proliferation and cellular survival. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry staining showed that LAL expression was correlated with Akt phosphorylation. Suppressing LAL expression decreased the phosphorylation level of Akt and Src and reduced the level of 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids in ccRCC cells. Supplement of 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids rescued proliferation in vitro and in vivo.

LAL promoted cell proliferation and survival via metabolism of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids and activation of the Src/Akt pathway.