Fig. 7.

Schematic representation of the role of OGC in HCC. HCC exhibit increased OGC expression, which overcomes the cholesterol-mediated impairment in mGSH transport, thus providing adequate mGSH levels. This increased state of mGSH defense protects against hypoxia-induced ROS generation and ensures cardiolipin status in its reduced form. This event along with the increased cholesterol accumulation in mitochondria protects against MOMP and promotes liver cancer. Knockdown of OGC antagonizes these events due to mGSH depletion, in line with the current view that cancer cells high a high reliance on antioxidants to control the fate of ROS generation to promote cancer development.