Metabolic Reprogramming of Immune Cells in Cancer Progression

Exploring the prognostic value of HK3 and its association with immune infiltration in glioblastoma multiforme

Background: Hexokinase 3 (HK3) is one of the key enzymes involved in glucose phosphorylation (the first step in most glucose metabolic pathways). Many studies have demonstrated the vital role of dysregulation of HK3 in several tumors. However, there is a need for in-depth characterization of the role of HK3 in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Methods: All data were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). Kaplan-Meier analysis and univariate regression were applied for survival analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used for enrichment analysis. Tumor Immune Single Cell Hub (TISCH) database was applied for single-cell analysis. Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) analysis was applied to evaluate the immune response. Results: HK3 expression was upregulated in GBM and correlated with poor prognosis. The high HK3 expression group was primarily enriched in adaptive immune response, chemokine signaling pathway, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. The high HK3 expression group showed significantly greater enrichment of the majority of immune cells and immune-related pathways. HK3 showed significant correlation with most immune cells, especially macrophages (p < .001, R = .81). TISCH analysis showed that HK3 was predominantly expressed in macrophages in most cancers. HK3 showed significant correlation with most immune-related genes, such as PD-1 (p < .001, R = .41), PDL-1 (p < .001, R = .27), and CTLA-4 (p < .001, R = .29). TIDE analysis revealed that the low HK3 expression group has a lower TIDE score and may benefit from immunotherapy. Drug sensitivity analysis showed that patients with high HK3 expression frequently showed drug resistance. Conclusion: HK3 was associated with poor prognosis and may serve as a biomarker of macrophages in GBM. HK3 was also associated with immune response and drug resistance. Our findings may provide novel insights for GBM immunotherapy.

The value of metabolic LncRNAs in predicting prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy of gastric cancer

Introduction

As a unique feature of malignant tumors, abnormal metabolism can regulate the immune microenvironment of tumors. However, the role of metabolic lncRNAs in predicting the prognosis and immunotherapy of gastric cancer (GC) has not been explored.

Methods

We downloaded the metabolism-related genes from the GSEA website and identified the metabolic lncRNAs. Co-expression analysis and Lasso Cox regression analysis were utilized to construct the risk model. To value the reliability and sensitivity of the model, Kaplan-Meier analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves were applied. The immune checkpoints, immune cell infiltration and tumor mutation burden of low- and high-risk groups were compared. Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) score was conducted to evaluate the response of GC patients to immunotherapy.

Results

Twenty-three metabolic lncRNAs related to the prognosis of GC were obtained. Three cluster patterns based on metabolic lncRNAs could distinguish GC patients with different overall survival time (OS) effectively (p<0.05). The risk score model established by seven metabolic lncRNAs was verified as an independent prognostic indicator for predicting the OS of GC. The AUC value of the risk model was higher than TNM staging. The high-risk patients were accompanied by significantly increased expression of immune checkpoint molecules (including PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA4) and increased tumor tolerant immune cells, but significantly decreased tumor mutation burden (TMB). Consistently, TIDE values of low-risk patients were significantly lower than that of high-risk patients.

Discussion

The metabolic lncRNAs risk model can reliably and independently predict the prognosis of GC. The feature that simultaneously map the immune status of tumor microenvironment and TMB gives risk model great potential to serve as an indicator of immunotherapy.

Metabolic reprogramming of immune cells in pancreatic cancer progression

Abnormal intracellular metabolism not only provides nutrition for tumor occurrence and development, but also sensitizes the function of various immune cells in the immune microenvironment to promote tumor immune escape. This review discusses the emerging role of immune cells in the progress of pancreatic cancer, acrossing metabolic reprogramming and key metabolic pathways present in different immune cell types. At present, the hotspots of metabolic reprogramming of immune cells in pancreatic cancer progression mainly focuses on glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle and amino acid metabolism, which affect the function of anti-tumor immune cells and immunosuppressive cells in the microenvironment, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, neutrophils and B cells by a series of key metabolic signaling pathways, such as PI3K/AKT, mTOR, AMPK, HIF-1α, c-Myc and p53. Drugs that target the tumor metabolism pathways for clinical treatment of pancreatic cancer are also systematically elaborated, which may constitute food for others' projects involved in clinical anti-cancer research.

Patient-derived xenografts or organoids in the discovery of traditional and self-assembled drug for tumor immunotherapy

In addition to the rapid development of immune checkpoint inhibitors, there has also been a surge in the development of self-assembly immunotherapy drugs. Based on the immune target, traditional tumor immunotherapy drugs are classified into five categories, namely immune checkpoint inhibitors, direct immune modulators, adoptive cell therapy, oncolytic viruses, and cancer vaccines. Additionally, the emergence of self-assembled drugs with improved precision and environmental sensitivity offers a promising innovation approach to tumor immunotherapy. Despite rapid advances in tumor immunotherapy drug development, all candidate drugs require preclinical evaluation for safety and efficacy, and conventional evaluations are primarily conducted using two-dimensional cell lines and animal models, an approach that may be unsuitable for immunotherapy drugs. The patient-derived xenograft and organoids models, however, maintain the heterogeneity and immunity of the pathological tumor heterogeneity.

N6-methyladenosine in hematological malignancies: a concise review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Hematological malignancies are a kind of systemic cancers mostly related to abnormal differentiation of blood stem cells. Because of the poor prognosis, chemotherapy resistance and common recurrence, new mechanisms and treatment therapies are looking forward to be discovered.

RECENT FINDINGS

Over the years, epigenetic abnormalities have been known to act a key part in occurrence and development of hematological tumors. In the internal modifications on long noncoding eukaryotic mRNA, there is a common type called N6-methyladenosine that can change the expression of target genes and participate in the translation, degradation and splicing of mRNA. M6A is related to a wealth of cancers, such as HNRNPA2B1's elevation in multiple myeloma, METTLE3's elevation in acute myeloid leukemia and lung cancer. Immune cells, playing a significant role in hematological cancers, can also be regulated by m6A.

SUMMARY

In the review, we summarized the recent progress on hematological malignancies associating with m6A and immune cells, which may offer a new road for the treatment of them.

Unique metabolism and protein expression signature in human decidual NK cells

Human decidual natural killer (dNK) cells are a unique type of tissue-resident NK cells at the maternal-fetal interface. dNK cells are likely to have pivotal roles during pregnancy, including in maternal-fetal immune tolerance, trophoblast invasion, and fetal development. However, detailed insights into these cells are still lacking. In this study, we performed metabolomic and proteomic analyses on human NK cells derived from decidua and peripheral blood. We found that 77 metabolites were significantly changed in dNK cells. Notably, compared to peripheral blood NK (pNK) cells, 29 metabolites involved in glycerophospholipid and glutathione metabolism were significantly decreased in dNK cells. Moreover, we found that 394 proteins were differentially expressed in dNK cells. Pathway analyses and network enrichment analyses identified 110 differentially expressed proteins involved in focal adhesion, cytoskeleton remodeling, oxidoreductase activity, and fatty acid metabolism in dNK cells. The integrated proteomic and metabolomic analyses revealed significant downregulation in glutathione metabolism in dNK cells compared to pNK cells. Our data indicate that human dNK cells have unique metabolism and protein-expression features, likely regulating their function in pregnancy and immunity.

Lactate in the tumor microenvironment: A rising star for targeted tumor therapy

Metabolic reprogramming is one of fourteen hallmarks of tumor cells, among which aerobic glycolysis, often known as the "Warburg effect," is essential to the fast proliferation and aggressive metastasis of tumor cells. Lactate, on the other hand, as a ubiquitous molecule in the tumor microenvironment (TME), is generated primarily by tumor cells undergoing glycolysis. To prevent intracellular acidification, malignant cells often remove lactate along with H⁺, yet the acidification of TME is inevitable. Not only does the highly concentrated lactate within the TME serve as a substrate to supply energy to the malignant cells, but it also works as a signal to activate multiple pathways that enhance tumor metastasis and invasion, intratumoral angiogenesis, as well as immune escape. In this review, we aim to discuss the latest findings on lactate metabolism in tumor cells, particularly the capacity of extracellular lactate to influence cells in the tumor microenvironment. In addition, we examine current treatment techniques employing existing medications that target and interfere with lactate generation and transport in cancer therapy. New research shows that targeting lactate metabolism, lactate-regulated cells, and lactate action pathways are viable cancer therapy strategies.

Bibliometric analysis of single-cell sequencing researches on immune cells and their application of DNA damage repair in cancer immunotherapy

INTRODUCTION

In recent decades, single-cell sequencing technology has developed rapidly and used widely in various fields of life sciences, especially for the detection of immune cells. A bibliometric analysis of single-cell sequencing research work on immune cells published during the 2011-2021 period should provide new insight on the use of single-cell sequencing.

METHODS

We screened 1,460 publications on single-cell sequencing on immune cells according to the publication date, article type, language, and country.

REULTS

The United States published the first and largest number of articles, while China's research started relatively late, but ranked second in the number of publications. T cells were the most commonly studied immune cells by single-cell sequencing, followed by mononuclear macrophages. Cancer biology was the most common field of immune cell research by single-cell sequencing. Single-cell sequencing studies using γδ T cells were mainly in the fields of cancer biology and cell development, and focused over time from cell surface receptor to cell function. Through in-depth analysis of the articles on single-cell sequencing of T cells in the oncology field, our analysis found that immunotherapy and tumor microenvironment were the most popular research directions in recent years.

DISCUSSION

The combination of DNA damage repair and immunotherapy seems to provide a new strategy for cancer therapy.

The DNA adenine methylase of Salmonella Enteritidis promotes their intracellular replication by inhibiting arachidonic acid metabolism pathway in macrophages

Macrophages can participate in immune responses by altering their metabolism, and play important roles in controlling bacterial infections. However, Salmonella Enteritidis can survive and proliferate in macrophages. After the deletion of DNA adenine methylase (Dam), the proliferation of Salmonella Enteritidis in macrophages decreased, the molecular mechanism is still unclear. After infecting macrophages with Salmonella Enteritidis wild type and dam gene deletion strains, intracellular metabolites were extracted and detected by non-targeted metabolomics and fatty acid targeted metabolomics. We found Dam had significant effects on arachidonic acid and related metabolic pathways in macrophages. The dam gene can promote the proliferation of Salmonella Enteritidis in macrophages by inhibiting the metabolic pathway of cytosolic phospholipase A2-mediated arachidonic acid production and conversion to prostaglandin E2 in macrophages, reducing the secretion of the pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-6. In addition, inhibition of arachidonic acid-related pathways in macrophages by Arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone could restore the proliferation of dam gene deletion strains in macrophages. This study explored the role of Dam in the process of Salmonella Enteritidis invading host cells from the perspective of host cell metabolism, and provides new insights into the immune escape mechanism of Salmonella Enteritidis.

Lipid metabolism-related gene signature predicts prognosis and depicts tumor microenvironment immune landscape in gliomas

Background

Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults and accounts for more than 70% of brain malignancies. Lipids are crucial components of biological membranes and other structures in cells. Accumulating evidence has supported the role of lipid metabolism in reshaping the tumor immune microenvironment (TME). However, the relationship between the immune TME of glioma and lipid metabolism remain poorly described.

Materials and methods

The RNA-seq data and clinicopathological information of primary glioma patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). An independent RNA-seq dataset from the West China Hospital (WCH) also included in the study. Univariate Cox regression and LASSO Cox regression model was first to determine the prognostic gene signature from lipid metabolism-related genes (LMRGs). Then a risk score named LMRGs-related risk score (LRS) was established and patients were stratified into high and low risk groups according to LRS. The prognostic value of the LRS was further demonstrated by construction of a glioma risk nomogram. ESTIMATE and CIBERSORTx were used to depicted the TME immune landscape. Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) was utilized to predict the therapeutic response of immune checkpoint blockades (ICB) among glioma patients.

Results

A total of 144 LMRGs were differentially expressed between gliomas and brain tissue. Finally, 11 prognostic LMRGs were included in the construction of LRS. The LRS was demonstrated to be an independent prognostic predictor for glioma patients, and a nomogram consisting of the LRS, IDH mutational status, WHO grade, and radiotherapy showed a C-index of 0.852. LRS values were significantly associated with stromal score, immune score, and ESTIMATE score. CIBERSORTx indicated remarkable differences in the abundance of TME immune cells between patients with high and low LRS risk levels. Based on the results of TIDE algorithm, we speculated that the high-risk group had a greater chance of benefiting from immunotherapy.

Conclusion

The risk model based upon LMRGs could effectively predict prognosis in patients with glioma. Risk score also divided glioma patients into different groups with distinct TME immune characteristics. Immunotherapy is potentially beneficial to glioma patients with certain lipid metabolism profiles.

Vitamin D-VDR (vitamin D receptor) alleviates glucose metabolism reprogramming in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute kidney injury

Background: Our previous study showed that vitamin D (VD)-vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a nephroprotective role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Recently, glucose metabolism reprogramming was reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of AKI. Objective: To investigate the role of VD-VDR in glucose metabolism reprogramming in LPS-induced AKI. Methods: We established a model of LPS-induced AKI in VDR knockout (VDR-KO) mice, renal proximal tubular-specific VDR-overexpressing (VDR-OE) mice and wild-type C57BL/6 mice. In vitro, human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells), VDR knockout and VDR overexpression HK-2 cell lines were used. Results: Paricalcitol (an active vitamin D analog) or VDR-OE reduced lactate concentration, hexokinase activity and PDHA1 phosphorylation (a key step in inhibiting aerobic oxidation) and simultaneously ameliorated renal inflammation, apoptosis and kidney injury in LPS-induced AKI mice, which were more severe in VDR-KO mice. In in vitro experiments, glucose metabolism reprogramming, inflammation and apoptosis induced by LPS were alleviated by treatment with paricalcitol or dichloroacetate (DCA, an inhibitor of p-PDHA1). Moreover, paricalcitol activated the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and an AMPK inhibitor partially abolished the protective effect of paricalcitol in LPS-treated HK-2 cells. Conclusion: VD-VDR alleviated LPS-induced metabolic reprogramming in the kidneys of AKI mice, which may be attributed to the inactivation of PDHA1 phosphorylation via the AMPK pathway.

LIPG is a novel prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltrates in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Although many biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have been identified, their specificity and sensitivity remain unsatisfactory. Endothelial lipase gene (LIPG) plays an important role in a variety of cancers, but its role in lung adenocarcinoma remains unclear.

METHODS

TCGA, GEO, K-M plotter, CIBERSORT, GSEA, HPA, and GDSC were used to analyze LIPG in LUAD. Data analysis was mainly achieved by R 4.0.3.

RESULTS

The expression of LIPG in LUAD tissues was higher than that in adjacent normal tissues, especially in women, patients aged >65 years, and those with lymph node metastasis. High expression predicted a poor prognosis. The results of enrichment analysis suggest that LIPG may exert profound effects on the development of LUAD through multiple stages of lipid metabolism and immune system regulation. In addition, LIPG expression was significantly correlated with the expression levels of multiple immune checkpoint genes and the abundance of multiple immune infiltrates, including the activated memory CD4 T cell, M1 macrophage, neutrophil, plasma cells, and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in the LUAD microenvironment content. At the same time, patients with high LIPG expression respond well to a variety of antitumor drugs and have a low rate of drug resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

LIPG is a prognostic marker and is associated with lipid metabolism and immune infiltration in LUAD.

The Effect of Oxidative Phosphorylation on Cancer Drug Resistance

Recent studies have shown that oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is a target for the effective attenuation of cancer drug resistance. OXPHOS inhibitors can improve treatment responses to anticancer therapy in certain cancers, such as melanomas, lymphomas, colon cancers, leukemias and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the effect of OXPHOS on cancer drug resistance is complex and associated with cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer cells universally promote OXPHOS activity through the activation of various signaling pathways, and this activity is required for resistance to cancer therapy. Resistant cancer cells are prevalent among cancer stem cells (CSCs), for which the main metabolic phenotype is increased OXPHOS. CSCs depend on OXPHOS to survive targeting by anticancer drugs and can be selectively eradicated by OXPHOS inhibitors. In contrast to that in cancer cells, mitochondrial OXPHOS is significantly downregulated in tumor-infiltrating T cells, impairing antitumor immunity. In this review, we summarize novel research showing the effect of OXPHOS on cancer drug resistance, thereby explaining how this metabolic process plays a dual role in cancer progression. We highlight the underlying mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, as it is vital for discovering new drug targets.

Harnessing bioactive nanomaterials in modulating tumor glycolysis-associated metabolism

Glycolytic reprogramming is emerging as a hallmark of various cancers and a promising therapeutic target. Nanotechnology is revolutionizing the anti-tumor therapeutic approaches associated with glycolysis. Finely controlled chemical composition and nanostructure provide nanomaterials unique advantages, enabling an excellent platform for integrated drug delivery, biochemical modulation and combination therapy. Recent studies have shown promising potential of nanotherapeutic strategies in modulating tumor glycolytic metabolism alone or in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. To foster more innovation in this cutting-edge and interdisciplinary field, this review summarizes recent understandings of the origin and development of tumor glycolysis, then provides the latest advances in how nanomaterials modulate tumor glycolysis-related metabolism. The interplay of nanochemistry, metabolism and immunity is highlighted. Ultimately, the challenges and opportunities are presented.

Alterations in cellular metabolisms after TKI therapy for Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia in children: A review

Incidence rates of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are lower but more aggressive in children than in adults due to different biological and host factors. After the clinical application of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) blocking BCR/ABL kinase activity, the prognosis of children with CML and Ph+ ALL has improved dramatically. Yet, off-target effects and drug tolerance will occur during the TKI treatments, contributing to treatment failure. In addition, compared to adults, children may need a longer course of TKIs therapy, causing detrimental effects on growth and development. In recent years, accumulating evidence indicates that drug resistance and side effects during TKI treatment may result from the cellular metabolism alterations. In this review, we provide a detailed summary of the current knowledge on alterations in metabolic pathways including glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and other metabolic processes. In order to obtain better TKI treatment outcomes and avoid side effects, it is essential to understand how the TKIs affect cellular metabolism. Hence, we also discuss the relevance of cellular metabolism in TKIs therapy to provide ideas for better use of TKIs in clinical practice.

Lipid-related FABP5 activation of tumor-associated monocytes fosters immune privilege via PD-L1 expression on Treg cells in hepatocellular carcinoma

Monocytes/macrophages, a plastic and heterogeneous cell population of the tumor microenvironment (TME), can constitute a major component of most solid tumors. Under the pressure of rapid proliferation of the tumor, monocytes/macrophages can be educated and foster immune tolerance via metabolic reprogramming. Our studies have shown that the activation of FABP5, a lipid-binding protein, decreases the rate of β-oxidation causing the accumulation of lipid droplets in monocytes. We found that hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HCC) increased IL-10 secretion by monocytes, which depended on the expression of FABP5 and suppressing of the PPARα pathway. Moreover, the elevated level of IL-10 promotes PD-L1 expression on Treg cells via the JNK-STAT3 pathway activation. We also observed that elevation of FABP5 in monocytes was negatively related to HCC patients' overall survival time. Thus, FABP5 promotes monocyte/macrophage lipid accumulation, fosters immune tolerance formation, and might represent itself as a therapeutic target in both tumor-associated monocytes (TAMs) and cancer cells.

The Tumor Microenvironment Reprograms Immune Cells

Tumor tissue comprises a highly complex network of diverse cell types. The tumor microenvironment (TME) can be mainly subdivided into cancer cells and stromal cell compartments, the latter include different types of immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and pericytes. Tumor cells reprogram immune cells and other stromal cells in the TME to constrain their antitumor capacity by creating an immunosuppressive milieu and metabolism competition. Moreover, the reprogramming effect on immune cells is localized not only in the tumor but also at the systemic level. With wide application of single-cell sequencing technology, tumor-specific characteristics of immune cells and other stromal cells in the TME have been dissected. In this review, we mainly focus on how tumor cells reprogram immune cells both within the TME and peripheral blood. This information can further help us to improve the efficiency of current immunotherapy as well as bring up new ideas to combat cancer.

PPARα at the crossroad of metabolic-immune regulation in cancer

Rewiring metabolism to sustain cell growth, division, and survival is the most prominent feature of cancer cells. In particular, dysregulated lipid metabolism in cancer has received accumulating interest, since lipid molecules serve as cell membrane structure components, secondary signaling messengers, and energy sources. Given the critical role of immune cells in host defense against cancer, recent studies have revealed that immune cells compete for nutrients with cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment and accordingly develop adaptive metabolic strategies for survival at the expense of compromised immune functions. Among these strategies, lipid metabolism reprogramming toward fatty acid oxidation is closely related to the immunosuppressive phenotype of tumor-infiltrated immune cells, including macrophages and dendritic cells. Therefore, it is important to understand the lipid-mediated crosstalk between cancer cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) consist of a nuclear receptor family for lipid sensing, and one of the family members PPARα is responsible for fatty acid oxidation, energy homeostasis, and regulation of immune cell functions. In this review, we discuss the emerging role of PPARα-associated metabolic-immune regulation in tumor-infiltrated immune cells, and key metabolic events and pathways involved, as well as their influences on antitumor immunity.

Metabolic reprogramming by miRNAs in the tumor microenvironment: Focused on immunometabolism

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as a significant modulator of immunity, and their abnormal expression/activity has been linked to numerous human disorders, such as cancer. It is now known that miRNAs potentially modulate the production of several metabolic processes in tumor-associated immune cells and indirectly via different metabolic enzymes that affect tumor-associated signaling cascades. For instance, Let-7 has been identified as a crucial modulator for the long-lasting survival of CD8+ T cells (naive phenotypes) in cancer by altering their metabolism. Furthermore, in T cells, it has been found that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) expression is controlled via glycolytic metabolism through miRNAs in patients with ovarian cancer. On the other hand, immunometabolism has shown us that cellular metabolic reactions and processes not only generate ATP and biosynthetic intermediates but also modulate the immune system and inflammatory processes. Based on recent studies, new and encouraging approaches to cancer involving the modification of miRNAs in immune cell metabolism are currently being investigated, providing insight into promising targets for therapeutic strategies based on the pivotal role of immunometabolism in cancer. Throughout this overview, we explore and describe the significance of miRNAs in cancer and immune cell metabolism.

Surgical Stress and Cancer Progression: New Findings and Future Perspectives

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The stress response to surgery is essential for maintaining homeostasis and exhibits anti-tumor effects; however, an ongoing and exaggerated stress response may have adverse clinical consequences and even promote cancer progression. This review will discuss the complex relationship between surgical stress and cancer progression.

RECENT FINDINGS

Surgical stress exhibits both anti-tumor and cancer-promoting effects by causing changes in the neuroendocrine, circulatory, and immune systems. Many studies have found that many mechanisms are involved in the process, and the corresponding targets could be applied for cancer therapy. Although surgical stress may have anti-tumor effects, it is necessary to inhibit an excessive stress response, mostly showing cancer-promoting effects.

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems in cancer: A focus on inflammatory pathways

It has become necessary to accept the clinical reality of therapeutic agents targeting the cancer-associated immune system. In recent decades, several investigations have highlighted the role of inflammation in cancer development. It has now been recognized that inflammatory cells secrete mediators, including enzymes, chemokines, and cytokines. These secreted substances produce an inflammatory microenvironment that is critically involved in cancer growth. Inflammation may enhance genomic instability leading to DNA damage, activation of oncogenes, or compromised tumor suppressor activity, all of which may promote various phases of carcinogenesis. Conventional cancer treatment includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. However, treatment failure occurs because current strategies are unable to achieve complete local control due to metastasis. Nanoparticles (NPs) are a broad spectrum of drug carriers typically below the size of 100 nm, targeting tumor sites while reducing off-target consequences. More importantly, NPs can stimulate innate and adaptive immune systems in the tumor microenvironment (TME); hence, they induce a cancer-fighting immune response. Strikingly, targeting cancer cells with NPs helps eliminate drug resistance and tumor recurrence, as well as prevents inflammation. Throughout this review, we provide recent data on the role of inflammation in cancer and explore nano-therapeutic initiatives to target significant mediators, for example, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukins (ILs) associated with cancer-related inflammation, to escort the immunomodulators to cancer cells and associated systemic compartments. We also highlight the necessity of better identifying inflammatory pathways in cancer pathophysiology to develop effective treatment plans.

Glycolysis-Related SLC2A1 Is a Potential Pan-Cancer Biomarker for Prognosis and Immunotherapy

SLC2A1 plays a pivotal role in cancer glycometabolism. SLC2A1 has been proposed as a putative driver gene in various cancers. However, a pan-cancer analysis of SLC2A1 has not yet been performed. In this study, we explored the expression and prognosis of SLC2A1 in pan-cancer across multiple databases. We conducted genetic alteration, epigenetic, and functional enrichment analyses of SLC2A. We calculated the correlation between SLC2A1 and tumor microenvironment using the TCGA pan-cancer dataset. We observed high expression levels of SLC2A1 with poor prognosis in most cancers. The overall genetic alteration frequency of SLC2A1 was 1.8% in pan-cancer, and the SLC2A1 promoter was hypomethylation in several cancers. Most m6A-methylation-related genes positively correlated with the expression of SLC2A1 in 33 TCGA cancers. Moreover, SLC2A1 was mainly related to the functions including epithelial-mesenchymal transition, glycolysis, hypoxia, cell-cycle regulation, and DNA repair. Finally, SLC2A1 positively associated with neutrophils and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment of most cancers and significantly correlated with TMB and MSI in various cancers. Notably, SLC2A1 was remarkably positively correlated with PD-L1 and CTLA4 in most cancers. SLC2A1 might serve as an attractive pan-cancer biomarker for providing new insights into cancer therapeutics.

Development of a novel glycolysis-related genes signature for isocitrate dehydrogenase 1-associated glioblastoma multiforme

Background

The significant difference in prognosis between IDH1 wild-type and IDH1 mutant glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) may be attributed to their metabolic discrepancies. Hence, we try to construct a prognostic signature based on glycolysis-related genes (GRGs) for IDH1-associated GBM and further investigate its relationships with immunity.

Methods

Differentially expressed GRGs between IDH1 wild-type and IDH1 mutant GBM were screened based on the TCGA database and the Molecular Signature Database (MSigDB). Consensus Cluster Plus analysis and KEGG pathway analyses were used to establish a new GRGs set. WGCNA, univariate Cox, and LASSO regression analyses were then performed to construct the prognostic signature. Then, we evaluated association of the prognostic signature with patients’ survival, clinical characteristics, tumor immunogenicity, immune infiltration, and validated one hub gene.

Results

956 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between IDH1 wild-type and mutant GBM were screened out and six key prognostically related GRGs were rigorously selected to construct a prognostic signature. Further evaluation and validation showed that the signature independently predicted GBM patients’ prognosis with moderate accuracy. In addition, the prognostic signature was also significantly correlated with clinical traits (sex and MGMT promoter status), tumor immunogenicity (mRNAsi, EREG-mRNAsi and HRD-TAI), and immune infiltration (stemness index, immune cells infiltration, immune score, and gene mutation). Among six key prognostically related GRGs, CLEC5A was selected and validated to potentially play oncogenic roles in GBM.

Conclusion

Construction of GRGs prognostic signature and identification of close correlation between the signature and immune landscape would suggest its potential applicability in immunotherapy of GBM in the future.

Role of a lipid metabolism-related lncRNA signature in risk stratification and immune microenvironment for colon cancer

Background

Energy metabolism disorder, especially lipid metabolism disorder, is an important biological characteristic of colon cancer. This research sought to examine the association between lipid metabolism-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and prognoses among colon cancer patients.

Methods

The transcriptome profile and clinical data of patients with colon cancer were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Using consensus clustering, cases were divided into two clusters and Kaplan–Meier analysis was executed to analyze differences in their prognoses. The gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to discover biological processes and signaling pathways. A lipid metabolism-related lncRNA prognostic model (lipid metabolism-LncRM) was created utilizing the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. The tumor microenvironment was evaluated on the basis of the composition of immune and stromal cells.

Results

The patients in Cluster 2 were found to have a better prognosis and higher expression of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) relative to Cluster 1. The results of GSEA showed the enrichment of energy metabolism pathways in Cluster 2. LASSO regression was used to identify the five LncRNAs that were shown to be most substantially linked to patient prognosis. These were NSMCE1-DT, LINC02084, MYOSLID, LINC02428, and MRPS9-AS1. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and survival analysis illustrated that the lipid metabolism-LncRM had a significant prognostic value. Further analysis showed that high- and low-risk groups were significantly different in terms of clinical characteristics and immune cells infiltration.

Conclusions

Lipid metabolism-related lncRNAs could predict the prognoses and tumor microenvironment of colon cancer and might be important biomarkers relevant to immunotherapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-022-01369-8.

Heterogeneity of glioblastoma stem cells in the context of the immune microenvironment and geospatial organization

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an extremely aggressive and incurable primary brain tumor with a 10-year survival of just 0.71%. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to seed GBM's inevitable recurrence by evading standard of care treatment, which combines surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, contributing to this grim prognosis. Effective targeting of CSCs could result in insights into GBM treatment resistance and development of novel treatment paradigms. There is a major ongoing effort to characterize CSCs, understand their interactions with the tumor microenvironment, and identify ways to eliminate them. This review discusses the diversity of CSC lineages present in GBM and how this glioma stem cell (GSC) mosaicism drives global intratumoral heterogeneity constituted by complex and spatially distinct local microenvironments. We review how a tumor's diverse CSC populations orchestrate and interact with the environment, especially the immune landscape. We also discuss how to map this intricate GBM ecosystem through the lens of metabolism and immunology to find vulnerabilities and new ways to disrupt the equilibrium of the system to achieve improved disease outcome.

Improving cancer immunotherapy by rationally combining oncolytic virus with modulators targeting key signaling pathways

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) represent a new class of multi-modal immunotherapies for cancer, with OV-elicited antitumor immunity being key to their overall therapeutic efficacy. Currently, the clinical effectiveness of OV as monotherapy remains limited, and thus investigators have been exploring various combinations with other anti-cancer agents and demonstrated improved therapeutic efficacy. As cancer cells have evolved to alter key signaling pathways for enhanced cell proliferation, cancer progression and metastasis, these cellular and molecular changes offer promising targets for rational cancer therapy design. In this regard, key molecules in relevant signaling pathways for cancer cells or/and immune cells, such as EGFR-KRAS (e.g., KRAS^G12C), PI3K-AKT-mTOR, ERK-MEK, JAK-STAT, p53, PD-1-PD-L1, and epigenetic, or immune pathways (e.g., histone deacetylases, cGAS-STING) are currently under investigation and have the potential to synergize with OV to modulate the immune milieu of the tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby improving and sustaining antitumor immunity. As many small molecule modulators of these signaling pathways have been developed and have shown strong therapeutic potential, here we review key findings related to both OV-mediated immunotherapy and the utility of small molecule modulators of signaling pathways in immuno-oncology. Then, we focus on discussion of the rationales and potential strategies for combining OV with selected modulators targeting key cellular signaling pathways in cancer or/and immune cells to modulate the TME and enhance antitumor immunity and therapeutic efficacy. Finally, we provide perspectives and viewpoints on the application of novel experimental systems and technologies that can propel this exciting branch of medicine into a bright future.

The complexity of p53-mediated metabolic regulation in tumor suppression

Although the classic activities of p53 including induction of cell-cycle arrest, senescence, and apoptosis are well accepted as critical barriers to cancer development, accumulating evidence suggests that loss of these classic activities is not sufficient to abrogate the tumor suppression activity of p53. Numerous studies suggest that metabolic regulation contributes to tumor suppression, but the mechanisms by which it does so are not completely understood. Cancer cells rewire cellular metabolism to meet the energetic and substrate demands of tumor development. It is well established that p53 suppresses glycolysis and promotes mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation through a number of downstream targets against the Warburg effect. The role of p53-mediated metabolic regulation in tumor suppression is complexed by its function to promote both cell survival and cell death under different physiological settings. Indeed, p53 can regulate both pro-oxidant and antioxidant target genes for complete opposite effects. In this review, we will summarize the roles of p53 in the regulation of glucose, lipid, amino acid, nucleotide, iron metabolism, and ROS production. We will highlight the mechanisms underlying p53-mediated ferroptosis, AKT/mTOR signaling as well as autophagy and discuss the complexity of p53-metabolic regulation in tumor development.

Exploration of a predictive model based on genes associated with fatty acid metabolism and clinical treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors of the head and neck and presents high risks of recurrence and poor prognosis postoperatively. The aim of this study was to establish a predictive model based on fatty acid metabolism (FAM) genes to forecast the prognosis of HNSCC patients and the subsequent treatment strategies.

METHODS

We accessed the TCGA and GEO databases for HNSCC genes and clinical data. The FAM risk score model was created and validated using a combination of univariate Cox analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Combining risk scores and clinical characteristics, a nomogram was established and assessed. Subsequently, the function, gene mutation, immune difference, and chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity of the groups with high- and low-risk scores were analyzed. Consequently, the mode's validity was evaluated comprehensively by combining single gene analysis.

RESULTS

The FAM risk score model for predicting HNSCC prognosis had certain validity. Patients in the high- and low-risk groups had genetic mutations, and the prognosis was the poorest for the high-risk groups with high genetic mutations. The patients with low-risk scores were suitable for immunotherapy since they had increased infiltration of immune cells. In contrast, the patients in the other groups were more suitable for chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrated that the FAM risk score model may predict the prognosis of HSNCC and has a certain therapeutic guidance value.

Cellular reprogramming, chemoresistance, and dietary interventions in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) diagnosis has been associated with significant risk factors, including family history, late menopause, obesity, poor eating habits, and alcoholism. Despite the advances in the last decades regarding cancer treatment, some obstacles still hinder the effectiveness of therapy. For example, chemotherapy resistance is common in locally advanced or metastatic cancer, reducing treatment options and contributing to mortality. In this review, we provide an overview of BC metabolic changes, including the impact of restrictive diets associated with chemoresistance, the therapeutic potential of the diet on tumor progression, pathways related to metabolic health in oncology, and perspectives on the future in the area of oncological nutrition.

Nanomaterials: A powerful tool for tumor immunotherapy

Cancer represents the leading global driver of death and is recognized as a critical obstacle to increasing life expectancy. In recent years, with the development of precision medicine, significant progress has been made in cancer treatment. Among them, various therapies developed with the help of the immune system have succeeded in clinical treatment, recognizing and killing cancer cells by stimulating or enhancing the body’s intrinsic immune system. However, low response rates and serious adverse effects, among others, have limited the use of immunotherapy. It also poses problems such as drug resistance and hyper-progression. Fortunately, thanks to the rapid development of nanotechnology, engineered multifunctional nanomaterials and biomaterials have brought breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy. Unlike conventional cancer immunotherapy, nanomaterials can be rationally designed to trigger specific tumor-killing effects. Simultaneously, improved infiltration of immune cells into metastatic lesions enhances the efficiency of antigen submission and induces a sustained immune reaction. Such a strategy directly reverses the immunological condition of the primary tumor, arrests metastasis and inhibits tumor recurrence through postoperative immunotherapy. This paper discusses several types of nanoscale biomaterials for cancer immunotherapy, and they activate the immune system through material-specific advantages to provide novel therapeutic strategies. In summary, this article will review the latest advances in tumor immunotherapy based on self-assembled, mesoporous, cell membrane modified, metallic, and hydrogel nanomaterials to explore diverse tumor therapies.

Macrophages as tools and targets in cancer therapy

Tumour-associated macrophages are an essential component of the tumour microenvironment and have a role in the orchestration of angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodelling, cancer cell proliferation, metastasis and immunosuppression, as well as in resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and checkpoint blockade immunotherapy. Conversely, when appropriately activated, macrophages can mediate phagocytosis of cancer cells and cytotoxic tumour killing, and engage in effective bidirectional interactions with components of the innate and adaptive immune system. Therefore, they have emerged as therapeutic targets in cancer therapy. Macrophage-targeting strategies include inhibitors of cytokines and chemokines involved in the recruitment and polarization of tumour-promoting myeloid cells as well as activators of their antitumorigenic and immunostimulating functions. Early clinical trials suggest that targeting negative regulators (checkpoints) of myeloid cell function indeed has antitumor potential. Finally, given the continuous recruitment of myelomonocytic cells into tumour tissues, macrophages are candidates for cell therapy with the development of chimeric antigen receptor effector cells. Macrophage-centred therapeutic strategies have the potential to complement, and synergize with, currently available tools in the oncology armamentarium.

Macrophages can promote tumorigenesis and enhance the antitumour response. This Review discusses the molecular mechanisms underlying the reprogramming of macrophages in the tumour microenvironment and provides an overview of macrophage-targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer.

Metabolic reprogramming and crosstalk of cancer-related fibroblasts and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment

It is notorious that cancer cells alter their metabolism to adjust to harsh environments of hypoxia and nutritional starvation. Metabolic reprogramming most often occurs in the tumor microenvironment (TME). TME is defined as the cellular environment in which the tumor resides. This includes surrounding blood vessels, fibroblasts, immune cells, signaling molecules and the extracellular matrix (ECM). It is increasingly recognized that cancer cells, fibroblasts and immune cells within TME can regulate tumor progression through metabolic reprogramming. As the most significant proportion of cells among all the stromal cells that constitute TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are closely associated with tumorigenesis and progression. Multitudinous studies have shown that CAFs participate in and promote tumor metabolic reprogramming and exert regulatory effects via the dysregulation of metabolic pathways. Previous studies have demonstrated that curbing the substance exchange between CAFs and tumor cells can dramatically restrain tumor growth. Emerging studies suggest that CAFs within the TME have emerged as important determinants of metabolic reprogramming. Metabolic reprogramming also occurs in the metabolic pattern of immune cells. In the meanwhile, immune cell phenotype and functions are metabolically regulated. Notably, immune cell functions influenced by metabolic programs may ultimately lead to alterations in tumor immunity. Despite the fact that multiple previous researches have been devoted to studying the interplays between different cells in the tumor microenvironment, the complicated relationship between CAFs and immune cells and implications of metabolic reprogramming remains unknown and requires further investigation. In this review, we discuss our current comprehension of metabolic reprogramming of CAFs and immune cells (mainly glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism) and crosstalk between them that induces immune responses, and we also highlight their contributions to tumorigenesis and progression. Furthermore, we underscore potential therapeutic opportunities arising from metabolism dysregulation and metabolic crosstalk, focusing on strategies targeting CAFs and immune cell metabolic crosstalk in cancer immunotherapy.

Prognosis Analysis and Validation of Fatty Acid Metabolism-Related lncRNAs and Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) is the third most common carcinoma and the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in women. The deregulation of fatty acid metabolism plays a crucial role in the progression of various tumors. This study is aimed at exploring the prognostic values of fatty acid metabolism- (FAM-) related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in CC. FAM-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and lncRNAs were screened in CC specimens based on TCGA datasets. Univariate analysis was carried out on differentially expressed lncRNAs to screen the survival-related lncRNAs. Multivariate assays were performed on the resulting lncRNAs to create a novel risk model. Survival assays were applied to examine the prognostic abilities of our model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the accuracy of the new model. The association between risk model and immune responses was analyzed. In this study, we screened 9 differently expressed lncRNAs associated with the clinical outcome of CC patients. A nine-lncRNA signature comprising SCAT1, AC119427.1, AC009097.2, MIR100HG, AC010996.1, AL583856.2, MIAT, AP003774.2, and AC004540.2 was established to predict overall survival of CC. Survival assays revealed that patients' high risk score showed a shorter overall survival than those with low risk score. Multivariate assays demonstrated that the nine-gene signature was an independent prognostic factor in CC. In addition, we observed that APC_co_stimulation, CCR, and parainflammation were distinctly different between low-risk and high-risk groups. Our group observed a distinct difference in the expressions of CD44, TNFRSF8, CD276, LAG3, TNFRSF14, TMIGD2, VTCN1, TNFRSF25, CD80, NRP1, TNFRSF18, CD70, TNFSF9, and LGALS9 between the two groups of patients. Overall, our findings indicated that the 9 FAM-related lncRNA signature might be a promising prognostic factor for CC and can promote the management of FAM-related therapy in clinical practice.

Construction and validation of a glioblastoma prognostic model based on immune-related genes

Background

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a common malignant brain tumor with high mortality. It is urgently necessary to develop a new treatment because traditional approaches have plateaued.

Purpose

Here, we identified an immune-related gene (IRG)-based prognostic signature to comprehensively define the prognosis of GBM.

Methods

Glioblastoma samples were selected from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). We retrieved IRGs from the ImmPort data resource. Univariate Cox regression and LASSO Cox regression analyses were used to develop our predictive model. In addition, we constructed a predictive nomogram integrating the independent predictive factors to determine the one-, two-, and 3-year overall survival (OS) probabilities of individuals with GBM. Additionally, the molecular and immune characteristics and benefits of ICI therapy were analyzed in subgroups defined based on our prognostic model. Finally, the proteins encoded by the selected genes were identified with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and western blotting (WB).

Results

Six IRGs were used to construct the predictive model. The GBM patients were categorized into a high-risk group and a low-risk group. High-risk group patients had worse survival than low-risk group patients, and stronger positive associations with multiple tumor-related pathways, such as angiogenesis and hypoxia pathways, were found in the high-risk group. The high-risk group also had a low IDH1 mutation rate, high PTEN mutation rate, low 1p19q co-deletion rate and low MGMT promoter methylation rate. In addition, patients in the high-risk group showed increased immune cell infiltration, more aggressive immune activity, higher expression of immune checkpoint genes, and less benefit from immunotherapy than those in the low-risk group. Finally, the expression levels of TNC and SSTR2 were confirmed to be significantly associated with patient prognosis by protein mass spectrometry and WB.

Conclusion

Herein, a robust predictive model based on IRGs was developed to predict the OS of GBM patients and to aid future clinical research.

Glioblastoma Associated Natural Killer Cell EVs Generating Tumour-Specific Signatures: Noninvasive GBM Liquid Biopsy with Self-Functionalized Quantum Probes

Diagnosis of glioblastoma (GBM) poses a recurring struggle due to many factors, including the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in addition to the significant tumor heterogeneity. Natural killer (NK) cells of the innate immune system are the primary immune surveillance mechanism for GBM and identify GBM tumors without any previous sensitization. The metabolic reprogramming of NK cells during GBM association is expected to be reflected in its extracellular vesicles. Therefore, tracking the activity of NK cell vesicles in circulation (circulating immune vesicles, CIVs) has great potential for accurate GBM diagnosis. However, identification GBM associated CIVs in circulation is immensely challenging as there is no availability of clinically validated GBM-specific circulating biomarkers. Here, we present GBM associated CIV profiling for noninvasive GBM diagnosis. We investigated the feasibility of using the signals derived from GBM associated CIVs as a de novo methodology for GBM diagnosis. An ultrasensitive sensor and a marker-free approach were essential for the detection of rare signals of GBM associated CIVs. For this purpose, we designed GBM ImmunoProfiler platform using scalable ultrafast laser multiphoton ionization mechanism and adopted surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) ensuring simultaneous detection of multiple CIV signals to identify GBM. We experimentally demonstrated that GBM associated CIVs carry unique, tumor-specific signals. The features of GBM associated CIVs were explored through machine learning identifying its similarity with GBM patient blood (without cell isolation) using a very small amount of peripheral blood (5 μL) with 96.82% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In addition, we demonstrated that a tumor associated CIV profile can classify between multiple brain cancer types (astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and glioblastoma). We also experimentally demonstrated significant variation in the immune checkpoint protein expression (PDL-1 and CTLA-4) between GBM associated CIVs and uninteracted CIVs. Preclinical analysis with serum specimens of GBM patients showed the possibility of using our technology for minimally invasive GBM diagnosis. With clinical validation, our technology has potential to improve GBM diagnostics with a useful, minimally invasive GBM liquid biopsy.

The metabolic addiction of cancer stem cells

Cancer stem cells (CSC) are the minor population of cancer originating cells that have the capacity of self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity (when transplanted into an immunocompromised animal). These low-copy number cell populations are believed to be resistant to conventional chemo and radiotherapy. It was reported that metabolic adaptation of these elusive cell populations is to a large extent responsible for their survival and distant metastasis. Warburg effect is a hallmark of most cancer in which the cancer cells prefer to metabolize glucose anaerobically, even under normoxic conditions. Warburg's aerobic glycolysis produces ATP efficiently promoting cell proliferation by reprogramming metabolism to increase glucose uptake and stimulating lactate production. This metabolic adaptation also seems to contribute to chemoresistance and immune evasion, a prerequisite for cancer cell survival and proliferation. Though we know a lot about metabolic fine-tuning in cancer, what is still in shadow is the identity of upstream regulators that orchestrates this process. Epigenetic modification of key metabolic enzymes seems to play a decisive role in this. By altering the metabolic flux, cancer cells polarize the biochemical reactions to selectively generate "onco-metabolites" that provide an added advantage for cell proliferation and survival. In this review, we explored the metabolic-epigenetic circuity in relation to cancer growth and proliferation and establish the fact how cancer cells may be addicted to specific metabolic pathways to meet their needs. Interestingly, even the immune system is re-calibrated to adapt to this altered scenario. Knowing the details is crucial for selective targeting of cancer stem cells by choking the rate-limiting stems and crucial branch points, preventing the formation of onco-metabolites.

Computational Metabolomics Reveals the Potential Mechanism of Matrine Mediated Metabolic Network Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex issue in cancer treatment in the world at present. Matrine is the main active ingredient isolated from Sophora flavescens air and possesses excellent antitumor effects in HCC. However, the specific underlying mechanisms, especially the possible relationships between the anti-HCC effect of matrine and the related metabolic network of HCC, are not yet clear and need further clarification. In this study, an integrative metabolomic-based bioinformatics algorithm was designed to explore the underlying mechanism of matrine on HCC by regulating the metabolic network. Cell clone formation, invasion, and adhesion assay were utilized in HCC cells to evaluate the anti-HCC effect of matrine. A cell metabolomics approach based on LC-MS was used to obtain the differential metabolites and metabolic pathways regulated by matrine. The maximum activity contribution score model was developed and applied to calculate high contribution target genes of matrine, which could regulate a metabolic network based on the coexpression matrix of matrine-regulated metabolic genes and targets. Matrine significantly repressed the clone formation and invasion, enhanced cell–cell adhesion, and hampered cell matrix adhesion in SMMC-7721 cells. Metabolomics results suggested that matrine markedly regulated the abnormal metabolic network of HCC by regulating the level of choline, creatine, valine, spermidine, 4-oxoproline, D-(+)-maltose, L-(−)-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L-pyroglutamic acid, and pyridoxine, which are involved in D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, etc. Our proposed metabolomic-based bioinformatics algorithm showed that the regulating metabolic networks of matrine exhibit anti-HCC effects through acting on MMP7, ABCC1, PTGS1, etc. At last, MMP7 and its related target β-catenin were validated. Together, the metabolomic-based bioinformatics algorithm reveals the effects of the regulating metabolic networks of matrine in treating HCC relying on the unique characteristics of the multitargets and multipathways of traditional Chinese medicine.

Hypercatabolism and Anti-catabolic Therapies in the Persistent Inflammation, Immunosuppression, and Catabolism Syndrome

Owing to the development of intensive care units, many patients survive their initial insults but progress to chronic critical illness (CCI). Patients with CCI are characterized by prolonged hospitalization, poor outcomes, and significant long-term mortality. Some of these patients get into a state of persistent low-grade inflammation, suppressed immunity, and ongoing catabolism, which was defined as persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PICS) in 2012. Over the past few years, some progress has been made in the treatment of PICS. However, most of the existing studies are about the role of persistent inflammation and suppressed immunity in PICS. As one of the hallmarks of PICS, hypercatabolism has received little research attention. In this review, we explore the potential pathophysiological changes and molecular mechanisms of hypercatabolism and its role in PICS. In addition, we summarize current therapies for improving the hypercatabolic status and recommendations for patients with PICS.

Targeted Arginine Metabolism Therapy: A Dilemma in Glioma Treatment

Efforts in the treatment of glioma which is the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system, have not shown satisfactory results despite a comprehensive treatment model that combines various treatment methods, including immunotherapy. Cellular metabolism is a determinant of the viability and function of cancer cells as well as immune cells, and the interplay of immune regulation and metabolic reprogramming in tumors has become an active area of research in recent years. From the perspective of metabolism and immunity in the glioma microenvironment, we elaborated on arginine metabolic reprogramming in glioma cells, which leads to a decrease in arginine levels in the tumor microenvironment. Reduced arginine availability significantly inhibits the proliferation, activation, and function of T cells, thereby promoting the establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Therefore, replenishment of arginine levels to enhance the anti-tumor activity of T cells is a promising strategy for the treatment of glioma. However, due to the lack of expression of argininosuccinate synthase, gliomas are unable to synthesize arginine; thus, they are highly dependent on the availability of arginine in the extracellular environment. This metabolic weakness of glioma has been utilized by researchers to develop arginine deprivation therapy, which ‘starves’ tumor cells by consuming large amounts of arginine in circulation. Although it has shown good results, this treatment modality that targets arginine metabolism in glioma is controversial. Exploiting a suitable strategy that can not only enhance the antitumor immune response, but also “starve” tumor cells by regulating arginine metabolism to cure glioma will be promising.

Targeting mitochondrial one-carbon enzyme MTHFD2 together with pemetrexed confers therapeutic advantages in lung adenocarcinoma

Metabolic remodeling is the fundamental molecular feature of malignant tumors. Cancer cells require sufficient energy supplies supporting their high proliferative rate. MTHFD2, a mitochondrial one-carbon metabolic enzyme, is dysregulated in several malignancies and may serve as a promising therapeutic candidate in cancer treatment. Here, our data confirmed that MTHFD2 gene and protein was upregulated in the cancerous tissues of LUAD patients and was correlated with a poor survival in LUAD. MTHFD2 was involved in lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis by mediating its downstream molecules, such as DNA helicases (MCM4 and MCM7), as well as ZEB1, Vimentin and SNAI1, which contributed to tumor cell growth and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Moreover, we identified that miRNA-99a-3p appeared to be an upstream mediator directly regulating MTHFD2 and MCM4 expression. Moreover, specific inhibition of MTHFD2 functions by siRNA or a chemical compound, improved anti-tumor sensitivities induced by pemetrexed in LUAD. Taken together, our study revealed the underlying molecular mechanisms of MTHFD2 in regulating cell proliferation and identified a novel therapeutic strategy improving the treatment efficacies in LUAD.

The interactive role of inflammatory mediators and metabolic reprogramming in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by its highly reactive inflammatory desmoplastic stroma with evidence of an extensive tumor stromal interaction largely mediated by inflammatory factors. KRAS mutation and inflammatory signaling promote protumorigenic events, including metabolic reprogramming with several inter-regulatory crosstalks to fulfill the high demand of energy and regulate oxidative stress for tumor growth and progression. Notably, the more aggressive molecular subtype of PDAC enhances influx of glycolytic intermediates. This review focuses on the interactive role of inflammatory signaling and metabolic reprogramming with emerging evidence of crosstalk, which supports the development, progression, and therapeutic resistance of PDAC. Understanding the emerging crosstalk between inflammation and metabolic adaptations may identify potential targets and develop novel therapeutic approaches for PDAC.

Characteristics of Fatty Acid Metabolism in Lung Adenocarcinoma to Guide Clinical Treatment

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has a very high morbidity and mortality rate, and its pathogenesis and treatment are still in the exploratory stage. Fatty acid metabolism plays a significant role in tumorigenesis, progression, and immune regulation. However, the gene expression of fatty acid metabolism in patients with LUAD and its relationship with prognosis remain unclear.

Methods

We collected 309 fatty acid metabolism-related genes, established a LUAD risk model based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) using Least Absolute Shrinkage Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analysis, and divided LUAD patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, which were further validated using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The nomogram, principal component analysis (PCA), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that the model had the best predictive performance. The ROC curves and calibration plots confirmed that the nomogram had good predictive power. We further analyzed the differences in clinical characteristics, immune cell infiltration, immune-related functions, chemotherapy drug sensitivity, and immunotherapy efficacy between the high-risk and low-risk groups. We also analyzed the enrichment pathways and protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks of different genes in the high-risk and low-risk groups to screen for target genes and further explored the correlation between target genes and differences in survival prognosis, clinical characteristics, gene mutations, and immune cells.

Results

Risk score and staging are independent prognostic factors for patients with LUAD. The high-risk group had lower immune cell infiltration, was more sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents, and had a poorer survival prognosis. We also obtained three pivotal genes with poor survival prognosis in the high expression group, which were strongly associated with clinical symptoms and immune cells.

Conclusion

Risk score and staging are independent prognostic factors for patients with LUAD. The high-risk group had lower immune cell infiltration, was more sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents, and had a poorer survival prognosis. We also obtained three survival prognosis-associated target genes that are closely associated with clinical symptoms and immune cells and may be potential targets for immune-targeted therapy in LUAD.

Astrocytes: GABAceptive and GABAergic Cells in the Brain

Astrocytes, the most numerous glial cells in the brain, play an important role in preserving normal neural functions and mediating the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Recent studies have shown that astrocytes are GABAceptive and GABAergic astrocytes express GABA_A receptors, GABA_B receptors, and GABA transporter proteins to capture and internalize GABA. GABAceptive astrocytes thus influence both inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission by controlling the levels of extracellular GABA. Furthermore, astrocytes synthesize and release GABA to directly regulate brain functions. In this review, we highlight recent research progresses that support astrocytes as GABAceptive and GABAergic cells. We also summarize the roles of GABAceptive and GABAergic astrocytes that serve as an inhibitory node in the intercellular communication in the brain. Besides, we discuss future directions for further expanding our knowledge on the GABAceptive and GABAergic astrocyte signaling.

LncRNAs in tumor metabolic reprogramming and immune microenvironment remodeling

Evidence accumulated over the past decade has verified that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert important functions in multiple cell programs. As a novel class of cellular regulatory molecules, lncRNAs interact with different molecules, such as DNA, RNA or proteins, depending on their subcellular distribution, to modulate gene transcription and kinase cascades. It has been widely clarified that lncRNAs play important roles in modulating metabolic reprogramming and reshaping the immune landscape and serve as hinges bridging tumor metabolism and anti-tumor immunity. Given these facts, lncRNAs, as putative regulators of tumor initiation and progression, have attracted extensive attention in recent years. In this review, we summarized the current research progress on the role of lncRNAs in tumor metabolic reprogramming and tumor-immune microenvironment remodeling, and conclude with our laboratory's contributions in advancing the clinical applications of lncRNAs.

Immune cell metabolism and metabolic reprogramming

Energy metabolism maintains the activation of intracellular and intercellular signal transduction, and plays a crucial role in immune response. Under environmental stimulation, immune cells change from resting to activation and trigger metabolic reprogramming. The immune system cells exhibit different metabolic characteristics when performing functions. The study of immune metabolism provides new insights into the function of immune cells, including how they differentiate, migrate and exert immune responses. Studies of immune cell energy metabolism are beginning to shed light on the metabolic mechanism of disease progression and reveal new ways to target inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune diseases, chronic viral infections, and cancer. Here, we discussed the relationship between immune cells and metabolism, and proposed the possibility of targeted metabolic process for disease treatment.

Biochemical recurrence related metabolic novel signature associates with immunity and ADT treatment responses in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a unique cancer from a metabolic perspective. Androgen receptor assumes a vital part in normal and malignant prostate cells regarding almost all aspects of cell metabolism, such as glucose, fat, amino acids, nucleotides, and so on.

METHODS

We used The Cancer Genome Atlas database as training set, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center cohort as validation set, and Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE70769) as test set to identify the optimal prognostic signature. We evaluated the signature in terms of biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS), ROC curve, clinicopathological features, independent prognostic indicators, tumor microenvironment, and infiltrating immune cells. Nomogram was built dependent on the results of cox regression analyses. GSEA algorithm was used to evaluate differences in metabolism. The signature's prediction of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) response was validated based on two groups of basic cytological experiments treat with ADT (GSE143408 and GSE120343) and the transcriptional information of pre-ADT/post-ADT of six local PCa patients.

RESULTS

We finally input four screened genes into the stepwise regression model to construct metabolism-related signature. The signature shows good prediction performance in training set, verification set, and test set. A nomogram based on the PSA, Gleason score, T staging, and the signature risk score could predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year bPFS with the high area under curve values. Based on gene-set enrichment analysis, the characteristics of four genes signature could influence some important metabolic biological processes of PCa and were serendipitously found to be significantly related to androgen response. Subsequently, two cytological experimental data sets and our local patient sequencing data set verified that the signature may be helpful to evaluate the therapeutic response of PCa to ADT.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic study definite a metabolism-related gene signature to foresee prognosis of PCa patients which might add to individual prevention and treatment.

Metabolism and polarization regulation of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment

The occurrence and development of tumors depend on the tumor microenvironment (TME), which consists of various types of cellular and acellular components. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant stromal cell types in the TME. The competition for nutrients between tumor cells and macrophages leads to a limited supply of nutrients, such as glucose, lipids, and amino acids, to immune cells, which affects the differentiation and function of macrophages. Other factors in the TME, such as cytokines, chemokines, and immune checkpoints, also affect the polarization and function of macrophages. Remodeling the tumor microenvironment induces changes in macrophage nutrient uptake and polarization status, which enhance anti-tumor immunity and oxidative stress resistance and suppress immune escape. This review summarizes the influence factors on tumor progression and immune function under different conditions of macrophages. It also demonstrates the metabolic heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity of macrophages, which provides novel strategies for anti-tumor treatment.