Close interactions between lncRNAs, lipid metabolism and ferroptosis in cancer

Int J Biol Sci. 2021 Oct 25;17(15):4493-4513. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.66181. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Abnormal lipid metabolism including synthesis, uptake, modification, degradation and transport has been considered a hallmark of malignant tumors and contributes to the supply of substances and energy for rapid cell growth. Meanwhile, abnormal lipid metabolism is also associated with lipid peroxidation, which plays an important role in a newly discovered type of regulated cell death termed ferroptosis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proven to be associated with the occurrence and progression of cancer. Growing evidence indicates that lncRNAs are key regulators of abnormal lipid metabolism and ferroptosis in cancer. In this review, we mainly summarized the mechanism by which lncRNAs regulate aberrant lipid metabolism in cancer, illustrated that lipid metabolism can also influence the expression of lncRNAs, and discussed the mechanism by which lncRNAs affect ferroptosis. A comprehensive understanding of the interactions between lncRNAs, lipid metabolism and ferroptosis could help us to develop novel strategies for precise cancer treatment in the future.

Keywords: Cancer; Ferroptosis; Lipid metabolism; LncRNAs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Ferroptosis / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism / physiology*
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism*

Substances

  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Cholesterol