Lipid droplet-associated hydrolase (LDAH) knockdown enhances TAG hydrolysis and promotes ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance

Abstract Lipid droplet-associated hydrolase (LDAH) is a lipid hydrolase abundantly expressed in adipose and ovarian tissues and macrophages. However, LDAH’s functions in ovarian cancer are largely unknown. Analysis of publicly available patient datasets showed decreased LDAH expression in advanced s...

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Main Authors: Bhawna Deswal, Sameera Nallanthighal, Elahe Nikpayam, Zenab Minhas, Antoni Paul, Young-Hwa Goo, Dong-Joo Cheon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-07-01
Series:Oncogenesis
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41389-025-00566-1
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author Bhawna Deswal
Sameera Nallanthighal
Elahe Nikpayam
Zenab Minhas
Antoni Paul
Young-Hwa Goo
Dong-Joo Cheon
author_facet Bhawna Deswal
Sameera Nallanthighal
Elahe Nikpayam
Zenab Minhas
Antoni Paul
Young-Hwa Goo
Dong-Joo Cheon
author_sort Bhawna Deswal
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Lipid droplet-associated hydrolase (LDAH) is a lipid hydrolase abundantly expressed in adipose and ovarian tissues and macrophages. However, LDAH’s functions in ovarian cancer are largely unknown. Analysis of publicly available patient datasets showed decreased LDAH expression in advanced stages of ovarian cancer, and low LDAH levels were associated with poor survival outcomes in ovarian cancer patients. Consistently, knockdown (KD) of LDAH in human ovarian cancer cell lines increased tumor cell proliferation but decreased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis upon cisplatin treatment. In addition, compared to scrambled control, LDAH KD ovarian cancer cells showed smaller lipid droplets (LDs), decreased triacylglycerol (TAG) content, and increased expression of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 A (CPT1A), and phospho-NF-kB. Our xenograft studies also showed increased tumor growth, increased ATGL expression, and decreased apoptosis after cisplatin treatment in LDAH KD tumors. ATGL overexpression increased cisplatin resistance and expression of CPT1A and phospho-NF-kB, whereas treatment of LDAH KD cells with an ATGL inhibitor attenuated the phenotype. Lastly, we observed that high ATGL levels were associated with shorter survival in ovarian cancer patients. Collectively, our results suggest that ovarian cancer cells downregulate LDAH expression, leading to enhanced ATGL-mediated TAG hydrolysis and increased tumor growth and chemoresistance.
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spelling doaj-art-097b5f4df15c4bfa96e37e412fabeee12025-08-20T03:45:36ZengNature Publishing GroupOncogenesis2157-90242025-07-011411910.1038/s41389-025-00566-1Lipid droplet-associated hydrolase (LDAH) knockdown enhances TAG hydrolysis and promotes ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistanceBhawna Deswal0Sameera Nallanthighal1Elahe Nikpayam2Zenab Minhas3Antoni Paul4Young-Hwa Goo5Dong-Joo Cheon6Department of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical CollegeDepartment of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical CollegeDepartment of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical CollegeDepartment of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical CollegeDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical CollegeDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical CollegeDepartment of Regenerative and Cancer Cell Biology, Albany Medical CollegeAbstract Lipid droplet-associated hydrolase (LDAH) is a lipid hydrolase abundantly expressed in adipose and ovarian tissues and macrophages. However, LDAH’s functions in ovarian cancer are largely unknown. Analysis of publicly available patient datasets showed decreased LDAH expression in advanced stages of ovarian cancer, and low LDAH levels were associated with poor survival outcomes in ovarian cancer patients. Consistently, knockdown (KD) of LDAH in human ovarian cancer cell lines increased tumor cell proliferation but decreased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis upon cisplatin treatment. In addition, compared to scrambled control, LDAH KD ovarian cancer cells showed smaller lipid droplets (LDs), decreased triacylglycerol (TAG) content, and increased expression of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 A (CPT1A), and phospho-NF-kB. Our xenograft studies also showed increased tumor growth, increased ATGL expression, and decreased apoptosis after cisplatin treatment in LDAH KD tumors. ATGL overexpression increased cisplatin resistance and expression of CPT1A and phospho-NF-kB, whereas treatment of LDAH KD cells with an ATGL inhibitor attenuated the phenotype. Lastly, we observed that high ATGL levels were associated with shorter survival in ovarian cancer patients. Collectively, our results suggest that ovarian cancer cells downregulate LDAH expression, leading to enhanced ATGL-mediated TAG hydrolysis and increased tumor growth and chemoresistance.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41389-025-00566-1
spellingShingle Bhawna Deswal
Sameera Nallanthighal
Elahe Nikpayam
Zenab Minhas
Antoni Paul
Young-Hwa Goo
Dong-Joo Cheon
Lipid droplet-associated hydrolase (LDAH) knockdown enhances TAG hydrolysis and promotes ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance
Oncogenesis
title Lipid droplet-associated hydrolase (LDAH) knockdown enhances TAG hydrolysis and promotes ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance
title_full Lipid droplet-associated hydrolase (LDAH) knockdown enhances TAG hydrolysis and promotes ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance
title_fullStr Lipid droplet-associated hydrolase (LDAH) knockdown enhances TAG hydrolysis and promotes ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance
title_full_unstemmed Lipid droplet-associated hydrolase (LDAH) knockdown enhances TAG hydrolysis and promotes ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance
title_short Lipid droplet-associated hydrolase (LDAH) knockdown enhances TAG hydrolysis and promotes ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance
title_sort lipid droplet associated hydrolase ldah knockdown enhances tag hydrolysis and promotes ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41389-025-00566-1
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