"Identification of the Function of Innate Immunity-Derived Proteins Promoting Cancer Metabolism"

Professor Seojun Young's Team at Yonsei University College of Medicine
Suppressing 'Bipherin' Expression
Slows Cancer Proliferation and Growth

Seojun Young, Professor, Department of Biomedical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The regulatory mechanism of a protein derived from innate immunity that promotes cancer cell proliferation, growth, and survival has been identified.

The research team led by Professor Seo Jun-young from the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Yonsei University College of Medicine announced on the 16th that they have elucidated the cancer metabolism regulatory function and mechanism of action of the protein 'Viperin,' which is expressed by interferon known to induce anti-cancer immune responses.

The team confirmed high expression of Viperin in various types of cancer tissues. High levels of Viperin expression were observed in cancer tissues from patients with gastric cancer (288 patients), lung cancer (230 patients), breast cancer (1981 patients), kidney cancer (443 patients), pancreatic cancer (184 patients), and brain cancer (206 patients), and the higher the expression, the lower the survival rate of cancer patients.

To verify Viperin's metabolic regulatory function in cancer cells, the researchers created cancer cell lines with suppressed or overexpressed Viperin and analyzed them. The analysis revealed that Viperin expression is induced not only by interferon but also by hypoxia and nutrient deprivation in the tumor microenvironment, promoting energy metabolism and fatty acid synthesis in cancer cells, thereby enabling their proliferation and survival.

In particular, Viperin was expressed in cancer stem cells, which are resistant to anticancer drugs and capable of differentiating into various cancer cell types, promoting metabolic changes and enhancing the characteristics of cancer stem cells. This function of Viperin was also confirmed to promote tumor growth in xenograft mouse experimental models.

Professor Seo stated, "We have identified a new mechanism by which the Viperin protein, expressed by interferon known to induce anti-cancer immune responses, regulates the metabolism of cancer stem cells and cancer cells, promoting cancer proliferation, growth, and survival. Through this research, it is expected that overcoming the limitations of existing anticancer drugs and developing therapies targeting cancer metabolism will be possible."

The results of this study were published in the latest issue of the international academic journal Journal of Clinical Investigation (IF 19.477).

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