Loss of MTCH2 induces E2F4/TFRC-mediated ferroptosis in colorectal cancer

Ferroptosis is a specific type of lipid peroxide-mediated cell death which is crucial in tumor suppression. While the mitochondrial carrier homolog 2 (MTCH2) is implicated in lipid homeostasis and mitochondrial metabolism, its role in ferroptosis and colorectal cancer (CRC) remains uncharacterized. Here, we identified MTCH2 as a crucial regulator of ferroptosis in CRC progression. Clinically, high expression of MTCH2 in CRC tissues predicted poor prognosis. Functionally, loss of MTCH2 inhibited azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colorectal tumorigenesis in intestine-conditional Mtch2 knockout (Mtch2cKO) mice and led to accumulation of ferrous ion and enhanced ferroptosis of CRC in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MTCH2 deficiency promoted the proteasome-dependent ubiquitination of E2F4 and attenuated transcriptional inhibition of transferrin receptor (TFRC) by E2F4, ultimately facilitating TFRC-mediated ferroptosis in CRC cells. Taken together, our study reveals the mechanism of MTCH2 deficiency induced ferroptosis to inhibit the progression of CRC, and supports a potential therapeutic strategy targeting the MTCH2/E2F4/TFRC signaling axis in CRC patients with liver metastasis. scRNA-seq of murine CRC from AOM/DSS-induced Mtch2cKO and wild type transgenic mice.