Elovl1, or elongation of very long-chain fatty acids protein 1, is an enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), specifically elongating saturated and monounsaturated C22-C26-VLCFAs. It is involved in lipid metabolism and is associated with pathways such as PI3K-AKT-mTOR [2]. Its activity is crucial for the production of C24 sphingolipids [7].

Astrocyte-specific knockout of Elovl1 mitigates astrocyte-mediated toxicity in vitro and in an acute axonal injury model in vivo, suggesting it plays a role in astrocyte-induced cell death via saturated lipids [1]. In hepatocellular carcinoma, silencing Elovl1 in cell lines inhibits cell growth, promotes apoptosis, and decreases metastasis, and low expression in a xenograft model inhibits tumor growth, indicating its role in promoting tumor growth through the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway [2]. In adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), inhibitors of Elovl1 reduce C26:0 VLCFA synthesis in patient cells and animal models [3,4,5]. In CD8+ T cells, inactivation of Elovl1 combined with anti-PD-1 shows therapeutic efficacy in resistant tumors, enhancing T cell fitness [6]. A dominant mutation in Elovl1 abrogates its enzymatic activity, causing a neuro-ichthyotic disorder [8].

In conclusion, Elovl1 is essential for VLCFA synthesis and C24 sphingolipid production. Gene knockout and knockdown models in various systems have revealed its roles in diseases like neurodegeneration, cancer, ALD, and in enhancing T cell fitness in tumors. These models contribute significantly to understanding its function in specific disease conditions, providing potential therapeutic targets for these diseases.