ACOT12-Dependent Alteration of Acetyl-CoA Drives Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Epigenetic Induction of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition.

ABSTRACT

Metabolic reprogramming plays an important role in supporting tumor growth. However, little is known about the metabolic alterations that promote cancer metastasis. In this study, we identify acyl-CoA thioesterase 12 (ACOT12) as a key player in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis. The expression of ACOT12 is significantly down-regulated in HCC tissues and is closely associated with HCC metastasis and poor survival of HCC patients. Gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrate that ACOT12 suppresses HCC metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanistic studies reveal that ACOT12 regulates the cellular acetyl-CoA levels and histone acetylation in HCC cells and that down-regulation of ACOT12 promotes HCC metastasis by epigenetically inducing TWIST2 expression and the promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Taken together, our findings link the alteration of acetyl-CoA with HCC metastasis and imply that ACOT12 could be a prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for combating HCC metastasis.