Paired related homeobox 1 attenuates autophagy via acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1-regulated fatty acid metabolism in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

Autophagy can affect the invasion and metastasis of carcinoma. Our previous study has shown that invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) can be promoted by the metabolic reprogramming of free fatty acids (FFAs). However, the effect of FFA metabolism on autophagy in SACC remains unknown. In this study, we showed that overexpression of paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) reduced the number of autophagosomes and decreased the expression of LC3 and Beclin-1 in SACC patients and SACC-83 cells in vitro. Moreover, PRRX1-mediating FFA reprogramming triggered to autophagy via regulating acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), leading to invasion and migration in SACC.

Automated summary

This study reveals that paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) triggers autophagy through regulating free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC), leading to enhanced invasion and metastasis.