SLC7A11 (also known as xCT) is a membrane transporter protein with high specificity for cysteine and glutamate. It promotes glutathione synthesis by consuming cysteine and simultaneously releasing glutamate. This in turn protects cells from oxidative stress, maintains cellular redox balance, and prevents cell death caused by lipid peroxidation. This protein has been identified as the primary mediator for the fusion and entry of Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus into cells. It is overexpressed in various malignant tumors and closely related to the growth, prognosis, metastasis, and treatment response of various cancers, including lung cancer.
