iScience (Sep 2024)

Targeting ALDOA to modulate tumorigenesis and energy metabolism in retinoblastoma

  • Yinghao Wang,
  • Junjie Tang,
  • Yaoming Liu,
  • Zhihui Zhang,
  • Hongwei Zhang,
  • Yujun Ma,
  • Xinyue Wang,
  • Siming Ai,
  • Yuxiang Mao,
  • Ping Zhang,
  • Shuxia Chen,
  • Jinmiao Li,
  • Yang Gao,
  • Chao Cheng,
  • Cheng Li,
  • Shicai Su,
  • Rong Lu

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 9
p. 110725

Abstract

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Summary: This study aims to elucidate the pivotal role of aldolase A (ALDOA) in retinoblastoma (RB) and evaluate the potential of the ALDOA inhibitor itaconate in impeding RB progression. Utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing, ALDOA consistently exhibits overexpression across diverse cell types, particularly in cone precursor cells, retinoma-like cells, and retinoblastoma-like cells. This heightened expression is validated in RB tissues and cell lines. ALDOA knockdown significantly diminishes RB cell viability, impedes colony formation, and induces notable metabolic alterations. RNA-seq analysis identifies SUSD2, ARHGAP27, and CLK2 as downstream genes associated with ALDOA. The application of itaconate demonstrates efficacy in inhibiting RB cell proliferation, validated through in vitro and in vivo models. This study emphasizes ALDOA as a promising target for innovative RB therapies, with potential implications for altering tumor energy metabolism.

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