Research progress on FASN and MGLL in the regulation of abnormal lipid metabolism and the relationship between tumor invasion and metastasis

Transcriptome and Metabolome analysis reveal HFPO-TA induced disorders of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in rat by interfering with PPAR signaling pathway

PFOA is one of the most representative compounds in the family of perfluorinated organic compounds. Due to its varying toxicity, alternatives to PFOA are beginning to emerge. HFPO-TA is an alternative for PFOA. It is currently unclear whether HFPO-TA affects glucose and lipid metabolism. In this study, rats were used as an animal model to investigate the effects of HFPO-TA on liver glucose and lipid metabolism. We found that HFPO-TA can affect glucose tolerance. Through omics analysis and molecular detection, it was found that HFPO-TA mainly affects the PPAR signaling pathway in the liver of rats, inhibiting liver glycolysis while promoting glucose production. HFPO-TA not only promotes the synthesis of fatty acids in the liver, but also promotes the breakdown of fatty acids, which ultimately leads to the disruption of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism. The effects of HFPO-TA on metabolism are discussed in this paper to provide a reference for the risk assessment of this PFOA substitute.

Si-Ni-San promotes liver regeneration by maintaining hepatic oxidative equilibrium and glucose/lipid metabolism homeostasis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The efficacy of clinical treatments for various liver diseases is intricately tied to the liver's regenerative capacity. Insufficient or failed liver regeneration is a direct cause of mortality following fulminant hepatic failure and extensive hepatectomy. Si-Ni-San (SNS), a renowned traditional Chinese medicine prescription for harmonizing liver and spleen functions, has shown clinical efficacy in the alleviation of liver injury for thousands of years. However, the precise molecular pharmacological mechanisms underlying its effects remain unclear.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the effects of SNS on liver regeneration and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A mouse model of 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx) was used to analyze the effects of SNS on liver regeneration. Aquaporin-9 knockout mice (AQP9-/-) were used to demonstrate that SNS-mediated enhancement of liver regeneration was AQP9-targeted. A tandem dimer-Tomato-tagged AQP9 transgenic mouse line (AQP9-RFP) was utilized to determine the expression pattern of AQP9 protein in hepatocytes. Immunoblotting, quantitative real-time PCR, staining techniques, and biochemical assays were used to further explore the underlying mechanisms of SNS.

RESULTS

SNS treatment significantly enhanced liver regeneration and increased AQP9 protein expression in hepatocytes of wild-type mice (AQP9+/+) post 70% PHx, but had no significant effects on AQP9-/- mice. Following 70% PHx, SNS helped maintain hepatic oxidative equilibrium by increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species scavengers glutathione and superoxide dismutase and reducing the levels of oxidative stress molecules H2O2 and malondialdehyde in liver tissues, thereby preserving this crucial process for hepatocyte proliferation. Simultaneously, SNS augmented glycerol uptake by hepatocytes, stimulated gluconeogenesis, and maintained glucose/lipid metabolism homeostasis, ensuring the energy supply required for liver regeneration.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the first evidence that SNS maintains liver oxidative equilibrium and glucose/lipid metabolism homeostasis by upregulating AQP9 expression in hepatocytes, thereby promoting liver regeneration. These findings offer novel insights into the molecular pharmacological mechanisms of SNS in promoting liver regeneration and provide guidance for its clinical application and optimization in liver disease treatment.

Transcriptomic analysis identifies the shared diagnostic biomarkers and immune relationship between Atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm based on fatty acid metabolism gene set

Background

Epidemiological research has demonstrated that there is a connection between lipid metabolism disorder and an increased risk of developing arteriosclerosis (AS) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the precise relationship between lipid metabolism, AS, and AAA is still not fully understood. The objective of this study was to examine the pathways and potential fatty acid metabolism-related genes (FRGs) that are shared between AS and AAA.

Methods

AS- and AAA-associated datasets were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the limma package was utilized to identify differentially expressed FRGs (DFRGs) common to both AS and AAA patients. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted on the (DFRGs), and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established. The selection of signature genes was performed through the utilization of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and random forest (RF). Subsequently, a nomogram was developed using the results of the screening process, and the crucial genes were validated in two separate external datasets (GSE28829 and GSE17901) as well as clinical samples. In the end, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was utilized to assess the immune cell patterns in both AS and AAA. Additionally, the correlation between key crosstalk genes and immune cell was evaluated.

Results

In comparison to control group, both AS and AAA patients exhibited a decrease in fatty acid metabolism score. We found 40 DFRGs overlapping in AS and AAA, with lipid and amino acid metabolism critical in their pathogenesis. PCBD1, ACADL, MGLL, BCKDHB, and IDH3G were identified as signature genes connecting AS and AAA. Their expression levels were confirmed in validation datasets and clinical samples. The analysis of immune infiltration showed that neutrophils, NK CD56dim cells, and Tem cells are important in AS and AAA development. Correlation analysis suggested that these signature genes may be involved in immune cell infiltration.

Conclusion

The fatty acid metabolism pathway appears to be linked to the development of both AS and AAA. Furthermore, PCBD1, ACADL, MGLL, BCKDHB, and IDH3G have the potential to serve as diagnostic markers for patients with AS complicated by AAA.

The m6A modification mediated-lncRNA POU6F2-AS1 reprograms fatty acid metabolism and facilitates the growth of colorectal cancer via upregulation of FASN

BACKGROUND

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key players in tumorigenesis and tumour progression. However, the biological functions and potential mechanisms of lncRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear.

METHODS

The novel lncRNA POU6F2-AS1 was identified through bioinformatics analysis, and its expression in CRC patients was verified via qRT-PCR and FISH. In vitro and in vivo experiments, such as BODIPY staining, Oil Red O staining, triglyceride (TAG) assays, and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were subsequently performed with CRC specimens and cells to determine the clinical significance, and functional roles of POU6F2-AS1. Biotinylated RNA pull-down, RIP, Me-RIP, ChIP, and patient-derived organoid (PDO) culture assays were performed to confirm the underlying mechanism of POU6F2-AS1.

RESULTS

The lncRNA POU6F2-AS1 is markedly upregulated in CRC and associated with adverse clinicopathological features and poor overall survival in CRC patients. Functionally, POU6F2-AS1 promotes the growth and lipogenesis of CRC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, METTL3-induced m6A modification is involved in the upregulation of POU6F2-AS1. Furthermore, upregulated POU6F2-AS1 could tether YBX1 to the FASN promoter to induce transcriptional activation, thus facilitating the growth and lipogenesis of CRC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data revealed that the upregulation of POU6F2-AS1 plays a critical role in CRC fatty acid metabolism and might provide a novel promising biomarker and therapeutic target for CRC.

CircHIPK3 regulates fatty acid metabolism through miR-637/FASN axis to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The oncogenic role of circRNA in cancers including esophageal cancer (EC) has been well studied. However, whether and how circRNAs are involved in cancer cell metabolic processes remains largely unknown. Here, we reported that circRNA, circHIPK3, is highly expressed in ESCC cell lines and tissues. Knockdown of circHIPK3 significantly restrained cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, circHIPK3 was found to act as a ceRNA by sponging miR-637 to regulate FASN expression and fatty acid metabolism in ESCC cells. Anti-sense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting circHIPK3 substantially inhibited ESCC both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, these results uncover a modulatory axis constituting of circHIPK3/miR-637/FASN may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for ESCC in the clinic.

Identification and Validation of Lipid Metabolism Gene FASN-Associated miRNA in Wilms Tumor

miRNA has been a research hotspot in recent years and its scope of action is very wide, involving the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and other biological behaviors. This study intends to explore the role of miRNA in the lipid metabolism and development of Wilms tumor (WT) by detecting and analyzing the differences in the expression profiles of miRNAs between the tumor and adjacent normal tissue. Gene detection was performed in tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues of three cases of WT to screen differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs). According to our previous research, FASN, which participates in the lipid metabolism pathway, may be a target of WT. The starBase database was used to predict FASN-targeted miRNAs. The above two groups of miRNAs were intersected to obtain FASN-targeted DEMs and then GO Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis of FASN-targeted DEMs was performed. Finally, the FASN-targeted DEMs were compared and further verified by qRT‒PCR. Through gene sequencing and differential analysis, 287 DEMs were obtained, including 132 upregulated and 155 downregulated miRNAs. The top ten DEMs were all downregulated. Fourteen miRNAs targeted by the lipid metabolism-related gene FASN were predicted by starBase. After intersection with the DEMs, three miRNAs were finally obtained, namely, miR-107, miR-27a-3p, and miR-335-5p. GO enrichment analysis was mainly concentrated in the Parkin-FBXW7-Cul1 ubiquitin ligase complex and response to prostaglandin E. Further experimental verification showed that miR-27a-3p was significantly correlated with WT (P = 0.0018). Imbalanced expression of miRNAs may be involved in the occurrence and development of WT through lipid metabolism. The expression of miR-27a-3p is related to the malignant degree of WT, and it may become the target of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of WT in the later stage.

Regulation of fatty acid synthase on tumor and progress in the development of related therapies

ABSTRACT

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is an essential molecule in lipid metabolic pathways, which are crucial for cancer-related studies. Recent studies have focused on a comprehensive understanding of the novel and important regulatory effects of FASN on malignant biological behavior and immune-cell infiltration, which are closely related to tumor occurrence and development, immune escape, and immune response. FASN-targeting antitumor treatment strategies are being developed. Therefore, in this review, we focused on the effects of FASN on tumor and immune-cell infiltration and reviewed the progress of related anti-tumor therapy development.

Metabolic reprogramming based on RNA sequencing of gemcitabine-resistant cells reveals the FASN gene as a therapeutic for bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is the most frequent malignant tumor of the genitourinary system. Postoperative chemotherapy drug perfusion and chemotherapy are important means for the treatment of BLCA. However, once drug resistance occurs, BLCA develops rapidly after recurrence. BLCA cells rely on unique metabolic rewriting to maintain their growth and proliferation. However, the relationship between the metabolic pattern changes and drug resistance in BLCA is unclear. At present, this problem lacks systematic research. In our research, we identified and analyzed resistance- and metabolism-related differentially expressed genes (RM-DEGs) based on RNA sequencing of a gemcitabine-resistant BLCA cell line and metabolic-related genes (MRGs). Then, we established a drug resistance- and metabolism-related model (RM-RM) through regression analysis to predict the overall survival of BLCA. We also confirmed that RM-RM had a significant correlation with tumor metabolism, gene mutations, tumor microenvironment, and adverse drug reactions. Patients with a high drug resistance- and metabolism-related risk score (RM-RS) showed more active lipid synthesis than those with a low RM-RS. Further in vitro and in vivo studies were implemented using Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN), a representative gene, which promotes gemcitabine resistance, and its inhibitor (TVB-3166) that can reverse this resistance effect.

Causal effects of gut microbiota on sepsis and sepsis-related death: insights from genome-wide Mendelian randomization, single-cell RNA, bulk RNA sequencing, and network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Gut microbiota alterations have been implicated in sepsis and related infectious diseases, but the causal relationship and underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

METHODS

We evaluated the association between gut microbiota composition and sepsis using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis based on published genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to validate the robustness of the results. Reverse MR analysis and integration of GWAS and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data were performed to identify potential genes and therapeutic targets.

RESULTS

Our analysis identified 11 causal bacterial taxa associated with sepsis, with increased abundance of six taxa showing positive causal relationships. Ten taxa had causal effects on the 28-day survival outcome of septic patients, with increased abundance of six taxa showing positive associations. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these associations. Reverse MR analysis did not provide evidence of reverse causality. Integration of GWAS and eQTL data revealed 76 genes passing the summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) test. Differential expression of these genes was observed between sepsis patients and healthy individuals. These genes represent potential therapeutic targets for sepsis. Molecular docking analysis predicted potential drug-target interactions, further supporting their therapeutic potential.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides insights for the development of personalized treatment strategies for sepsis and offers preliminary candidate targets and drugs for future drug development.

Acetyl-CoA metabolism as a therapeutic target for cancer

Acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), an essential metabolite, not only takes part in numerous intracellular metabolic processes, powers the tricarboxylic acid cycle, serves as a key hub for the biosynthesis of fatty acids and isoprenoids, but also serves as a signaling substrate for acetylation reactions in post-translational modification of proteins, which is crucial for the epigenetic inheritance of cells. Acetyl-CoA links lipid metabolism with histone acetylation to create a more intricate regulatory system that affects the growth, aggressiveness, and drug resistance of malignancies such as glioblastoma, breast cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. These fascinating advances in the knowledge of acetyl-CoA metabolism during carcinogenesis and normal physiology have raised interest regarding its modulation in malignancies. In this review, we provide an overview of the regulation and cancer relevance of main metabolic pathways in which acetyl-CoA participates. We also summarize the role of acetyl-CoA in the metabolic reprogramming and stress regulation of cancer cells, as well as medical application of inhibitors targeting its dysregulation in therapeutic intervention of cancers.

LINC01705 derived from adipocyte exosomes regulates hepatocyte lipid accumulation via an miR-552-3p/LXR axis

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

High glucose increases the accumulation of lipid droplets in hepatocytes, which eventually results in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with diabetes. However, the specific mechanism or communication between adipocyte and hepatocyte lipid metabolism is still ambiguous.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, exosomes released from human adipocytes were isolated and identified by their morphology, size, and marker proteins by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and western blotting (WB). Gene expression was detected by qRT-PCR and WB. Lipid accumulation was determined by oil red O staining and analyses of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) content.

RESULTS

Our results showed that co-culture of HepG2 cells with adipocytes under high glucose conditions stimulated lipid deposition and LINC01705 expression in the HepG2 cells. Exosomes extracted from adipocytes cultured under high glucose conditions had higher levels of LINC01705 than exosomes extracted from adipocytes cultured under normal glucose conditions. Moreover, LINC01705 expression was also elevated in exosomes extracted from diabetes patients when compared with exosomes isolated from normal volunteers, and exosomes from patients who had diabetes complicated with fatty liver (DCFL) had the highest levels of LINC01705 expression. Treatment of HepG2 cells with exosomes extracted from high glucose-stimulated adipocytes promoted lipid deposition and LINC01705 expression in HepG2 cells. Further experiments showed that overexpression of LINC01705 promoted HepG2 lipid metabolism, while inhibition of LINC01705 had the opposite effect. Mechanistically, LINC01705 competitively bound to miR-552-3p, and treatment with miR-552-3p inhibitor reversed the effects induced by LINC01705 knockdown. Moreover, miR-552-3p was found to regulate the transcription activity of LXRα and thereby modulate lipid metabolism-related gene expression.

CONCLUSIONS

When taken together, our findings showed that high glucose increased the LINC01705 levels in adipocyte exosomes, and thereby improved HepG2 lipid accumulation via an miR-552-3p/LXR axis.

Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Reveal the Mechanism of Corpus Luteum Cyst Formation in Pigs

Corpus luteum cysts are a serious reproductive disorder that affects the reproductive performance of sows. In this study, transcriptome and metabolome datasets of porcine normal and cyst luteal granulosa cells were generated to explore the molecular mechanism of luteal cyst formation. We obtained 28.9 Gb of high-quality transcriptome data from luteum tissue samples and identified 1048 significantly differentially expressed genes between the cyst and normal corpus luteum samples. Most of the differentially expressed genes were involved in cancer and immune signaling pathways. Furthermore, 22,622 information-containing positive and negative ions were obtained through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and 1106 metabolites were successfully annotated. Important differentially abundant metabolites and pathways were identified, among which abnormal lipid and choline metabolism were involved in the formation of luteal cysts. The relationships between granulosa cells of luteal cysts and cancer, immune-related signaling pathways, and abnormalities of lipid and choline metabolism were elaborated, providing new entry points for studying the pathogenesis of porcine luteal cysts.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 promotes the gonadal development of Pampus argenteus by regulating energy metabolism†

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1) is known to promote ovarian maturation by interacting with other hormones. However, the limited research on the role of Igf1 in the energy metabolism supply of gonads has hindered further exploration. To explore the role of Igf1 in gonadal development of silver pomfret, we analyzed the expression levels and the localization of igf1 mRNA and protein during testicular and ovarian development of silver pomfret. The results of the study showed upregulation of Igf1 in the critical period of vitellogenesis and sperm meiosis, which was found to be mainly expressed in the somatic cells of the gonads. Upon adding E2 and Igf1 to cultured gonadal tissues, the expression of energy-related genes was significantly increased, along with the E2-enhanced effect of Igf1 in the testis. Importantly, stimulation of both ovaries and testes with E2 and Igf1 led to a remarkable increase in the expression of vitellogenesis and meiosis-related genes. Therefore, we conclude that Igf1 promotes vitellogenesis and sperm meiosis by regulating gonadal energy production. Moreover, the expression of Igf1 in gonads is significantly regulated by E2. These findings provide new insights for the research of Igf1 in fish breeding, thus allowing the regulation of energy metabolism between growth and reproduction for successful reproductive outcomes.

GPD1 inhibits the carcinogenesis of breast cancer through increasing PI3K/AKT-mediated lipid metabolism signaling pathway

Glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (GPD1) acts as a tumor suppressor in various types of cancer. However, the mechanisms of GPD1 anti-tumor remain unclear in breast cancer. This study aims to explore the function and clinical relevance of GPD1 in breast cancer. We confirmed that GPD1 inhibited the ability of proliferation, migration, and invasion in GPD1 overexpression breast cancer cells by CCK-8, wound healing, and Transwell assays, respectively. We found that GPD1 overexpression activated the lipid synthesis pathway and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The inhibitory effect of GPD1 on breast cancer cells was also weakened after treatment with LY294002, a PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor. These results indicated that GPD1 suppressed the carcinogenesis of breast cancer through increasing PI3K/AKT-mediated lipid signaling pathways. Meanwhile, we detected that the relationship between GPD1 level and survival rate presents a positive correlation in breast cancer patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Therefore, GPD1 can be a prognostic biomarker and target in developing therapeutic strategies for breast cancer patients.

FOXO3 Deficiency in Neutrophils Drives Colonic Inflammation and Tumorigenesis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), increases the risk of colon cancer. PMN activation corresponds to the accumulation of intracellular Lipid Droplets (LDs). As increased LDs are negatively regulated by transcription factor Forkhead Box O3 (FOXO3), we aim to determine the significance of this regulatory network in PMN-mediated IBD and tumorigenesis. Affected tissue of IBD and colon cancer patients, colonic and infiltrated immune cells, have increased LDs' coat protein, PLIN2. Mouse peritoneal PMNs with stimulated LDs and FOXO3 deficiency have elevated transmigratory activity. Transcriptomic analysis of these FOXO3-deficient PMNs showed differentially expressed genes (DEGs; FDR < 0.05) involved in metabolism, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. Upstream regulators of these DEGs, similar to colonic inflammation and dysplasia in mice, were linked to IBD and human colon cancer. Additionally, a transcriptional signature representing FOXO3-deficient PMNs (PMN-FOXO3₃₈₉) separated transcriptomes of affected tissue in IBD (p = 0.00018) and colon cancer (p = 0.0037) from control. Increased PMN-FOXO3₃₈₉ presence predicted colon cancer invasion (lymphovascular p = 0.015; vascular p = 0.046; perineural p = 0.03) and poor survival. Validated DEGs from PMN-FOXO3₃₈₉ (P2RX1, MGLL, MCAM, CDKN1A, RALBP1, CCPG1, PLA2G7) are involved in metabolism, inflammation, and tumorigenesis (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the significance of LDs and FOXO3-mediated PMN functions that promote colonic pathobiology.

Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Potential Gut-Liver Crosstalks in the Lipogenesis of Chicken

Growing evidence has shown the involvement of the gut-liver axis in lipogenesis and fat deposition. However, how the gut crosstalk with the liver and the potential role of gut-liver crosstalk in the lipogenesis of chicken remains largely unknown. In this study, to identify gut-liver crosstalks involved in regulating the lipogenesis of chicken, we first established an HFD-induced obese chicken model. Using this model, we detected the changes in the metabolic profiles of the cecum and liver in response to the HFD-induced excessive lipogenesis using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) analysis. The changes in the gene expression profiles of the liver were examined by RNA sequencing. The potential gut-liver crosstalks were identified by the correlation analysis of key metabolites and genes. The results showed that a total of 113 and 73 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) between NFD and HFD groups were identified in the chicken cecum and liver, respectively. Eleven DAMs overlayed between the two comparisons, in which ten DAMs showed consistent abundance trends in the cecum and liver after HFD feeding, suggesting their potential as signaling molecules between the gut and liver. RNA sequencing identified 271 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the liver of chickens fed with NFD vs. HFD. Thirty-five DEGs were involved in the lipid metabolic process, which might be candidate genes regulating the lipogenesis of chicken. Correlation analysis indicated that 5-hydroxyisourate, alpha-linolenic acid, bovinic acid, linoleic acid, and trans-2-octenoic acid might be transported from gut to liver, and thereby up-regulate the expression of ACSS2, PCSK9, and CYP2C18 and down-regulate one or more genes of CDS1, ST8SIA6, LOC415787, MOGAT1, PLIN1, LOC423719, and EDN2 in the liver to enhance the lipogenesis of chicken. Moreover, taurocholic acid might be transported from the gut to the liver and contribute to HFD-induced lipogenesis by regulating the expression of ACACA, FASN, AACS, and LPL in the liver. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of gut-liver crosstalks and their potential roles in regulating chicken lipogenesis.

Identification of Metabolism-Related Proteins as Biomarkers of Insulin Resistance and Potential Mechanisms of m6A Modification

BACKGROUND

Insulin resistance (IR) is a major contributing factor to the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Adipocyte metabolism is known to play a crucial role in IR. Therefore, the aims of this study were to identify metabolism-related proteins that could be used as potential biomarkers of IR and to investigate the role of N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification in the pathogenesis of this condition.

METHODS

RNA-seq data on human adipose tissue were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The differentially expressed genes of metabolism-related proteins (MP-DEGs) were screened using protein annotation databases. Biological function and pathway annotations of the MP-DEGs were performed through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses. Key MP-DEGs were screened, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING, Cytoscape, MCODE, and CytoHubba. LASSO regression analysis was used to select primary hub genes, and their clinical performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The expression of key MP-DEGs and their relationship with m⁶A modification were further verified in adipose tissue samples collected from healthy individuals and patients with IR.

RESULTS

In total, 69 MP-DEGs were screened and annotated to be enriched in pathways related to hormone metabolism, low-density lipoprotein particle and carboxylic acid transmembrane transporter activity, insulin signaling, and AMPK signaling. The MP-DEG PPI network comprised 69 nodes and 72 edges, from which 10 hub genes (FASN, GCK, FGR, FBP1, GYS2, PNPLA3, MOGAT1, SLC27A2, PNPLA3, and ELOVL6) were identified. FASN was chosen as the key gene because it had the highest maximal clique centrality (MCC) score. GCK, FBP1, and FGR were selected as primary genes by LASSO analysis. According to the ROC curves, GCK, FBP1, FGR, and FASN could be used as potential biomarkers to detect IR with good sensitivity and accuracy (AUC = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.67-0.94; AUC = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.74-0.94; AUC = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.64-0.92; AUC = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.64-0.92). The expression of FASN, GCK, FBP1, and FGR was significantly correlated with that of IGF2BP3, FTO, EIF3A, WTAP, METTL16, and LRPPRC (p < 0.05). In validation clinical samples, the FASN was moderately effective for detecting IR (AUC = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.69-0.80), and its expression was positively correlated with the methylation levels of FASN (r = 0.359, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Metabolism-related proteins play critical roles in IR. Moreover, FASN and GCK are potential biomarkers of IR and may be involved in the development of T2D via their m⁶A modification. These findings offer reliable biomarkers for the early detection of T2D and promising therapeutic targets.

Gypenosides ameliorate high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice by regulating lipid metabolism

Gypenosides (GP), extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino, have been used to treat metabolic disorders, including lipid metabolism disorders and diabetes. Although recent studies have confirmed their beneficial effects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the underlying therapeutic mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we explored the protective mechanism of GP against NAFLD in mice and provided new insights into the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. Male C57BL6/J mice were divided into three experimental groups: normal diet, high-fat diet (HFD), and GP groups. The mice were fed an HFD for 16 weeks to establish an NAFLD model and then treated with GP for 22 weeks. The transcriptome and proteome of the mice livers were profiled using RNA sequencing and high-resolution mass spectrometry, respectively. The results showed that GP decreased serum lipid levels, liver index, and liver fat accumulation in mice. Principal component and heatmap analyses indicated that GP significantly modulated the changes in the expression of genes associated with HFD-induced NAFLD. The 164 differentially expressed genes recovered using GP were enriched in fatty acid and steroid metabolism pathways. Further results showed that GP reduced fatty acid synthesis by downregulating the expression of Srebf1, Fasn, Acss2, Acly, Acaca, Fads1, and Elovl6; modulated glycerolipid metabolism by inducing the expression of Mgll; promoted fatty acid transportation and degradation by inducing the expression of Slc27a1, Cpt1a, and Ehhadh; and reduced hepatic cholesterol synthesis by downregulating the expression of Tm7sf2, Ebp, Sc5d, Lss, Fdft1, Cyp51, Nsdhl, Pmvk, Mvd, Fdps, and Dhcr7. The proteomic data further indicated that GP decreased the protein expression levels of ACACA, ACLY, ACSS2, TM7SF2, EBP, FDFT1, NSDHL, PMVK, MVD, FDPS, and DHCR7 and increased those of MGLL, SLC27A1, and EHHADH. In conclusion, GP can regulate the key genes involved in hepatic lipid metabolism in NAFLD mice, providing initial evidence for the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of GP in NAFLD.

Total alkaloids in Stephania tetrandra induce apoptosis by regulating BBC3 in human non-small cell lung cancer cells

PURPOSE

This study investigated the effects of total alkaloids in Stephania tetrandra (TAS) and the main alkaloid components tetrandrine, fangchinoline and cepharanthine on the biological function of lung cancer cells and the mechanism underlying the synergistic antitumor effects of TAS and cisplatin.

METHODS

RNA sequencing analysis was performed on TAS-treated H1299 cells. Differentially expressed genes were identified and analyzed, and the regulatory pathway was identified by gene set enrichment analysis. The mRNA and protein expression levels of the differentially expressed genes in cells were determined using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Cell viability and wound healing assays evaluated the biological function of TAS and the main alkaloid components in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis rate in NSCLC cells.

RESULTS

TAS inhibited the proliferation and migration of A549 and H1299 cells and increased the apoptosis rate in a time- and dose-dependent manner. When H1299 cells were treated with TAS (7.5 µg/ml), MGLL and BBC3 were identified as the possible differentially expressed genes. Pathways associated with cisplatin resistance were screened to investigate the effect of TAS on the apoptosis of NSCLC cells. TAS may regulate fatty acid metabolism and induce apoptosis through the upregulated expression of MGLL and BBC3. The combination of TAS at noncytotoxic concentrations (A549: 1.0 μg/ml; H1299: 3.0 μg/ml) and cisplatin significantly inhibited the viability of A549 and H1299 cells.

CONCLUSION

TAS and the main alkaloid components exert anticancer activity in NSCLC by regulating tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis. Therefore, TAS and the main alkaloid components have the potential to be used as multi-targeted drugs for lung cancer treatment.

SCAT8/miR-125b-5p axis triggers malignant progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through SCARB1

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a tumor with high malignancy and poor prognosis, which severely affects the health of the patients. LncRNAs and microRNAs are crucial for the occurrence and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which regulate the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through the ceRNA network. SCARB1 plays an essential role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, the mechanism underlying the regulation of SCARB1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma through non-coding RNAs remains unclear. Our findings indicated that the SCAT8/miR-125b-5p axis promoted the malignant progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by driving the expression of SCARB1. Mechanistically, the expression of SCARB1 could be regulated by the lncRNA, SCAT8 and the microRNA, miR-125b-5p. Moreover, as a ceRNA of miR-125b-5p, SCAT8 can not only regulate the expression of SCARB1, but also regulate the malignant progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Notably, our results reveal a novel ceRNA regulatory network in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which could serve as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Steatosis in metabolic diseases: A focus on lipolysis and lipophagy

Fatty acids (FAs), as part of lipids, are involved in cell membrane composition, cellular energy storage, and cell signaling. FAs can also be toxic when their concentrations inside and/or outside the cell exceed physiological levels, which is called "lipotoxicity", and steatosis is a form of lipotoxity. To facilitate the storage of large quantities of FAs in cells, they undergo a process called lipolysis or lipophagy. This review focuses on the effects of lipolytic enzymes including cytoplasmic "neutral" lipolysis, lysosomal "acid" lipolysis, and lipophagy. Moreover, the impact of related lipolytic enzymes on lipid metabolism homeostasis and energy conservation, as well as their role in lipid-related metabolic diseases. In addition, we describe how they affect lipid metabolism homeostasis and energy conservation in lipid-related metabolic diseases with a focus on hepatic steatosis and cancer and the pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of AMPK/SIRTs/FOXOs, PI3K/Akt, PPARs/PGC-1α, MAPK/ERK1/2, TLR4/NF-κB, AMPK/mTOR/TFEB, Wnt/β-catenin through immune inflammation, oxidative stress and autophagy-related pathways. As well as the current application of lipolytic enzyme inhibitors (especially Monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL) inhibitors) to provide new strategies for future exploration of metabolic programming in metabolic diseases.

Roxadustat induces hepatotoxicity in zebrafish embryos via inhibiting Notch signaling

Roxadustat is a novel and effective small-molecule inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PHI). However, little research has been done on its toxicity to vertebrate embryonic development. In this study, we used zebrafish to assess the effects of roxadustat on early embryonic development. Exposure to 14, 28, and 56 μM roxadustat resulted in abnormal embryonic development in zebrafish embryos, such as shortened body length and early liver developmental deficiency. Roxadustat exposure resulted in liver metabolic imbalance and abnormal liver tissue structure in adult zebrafish. In addition, roxadustat could up-regulate oxidative stress, and astaxanthin (AS) could partially rescue liver developmental defects by down-regulation of oxidative stress. After exposure to roxadustat, the Notch signaling is down-regulated, and the use of an activator of Notch signaling can partially rescue hepatotoxicity. Therefore, our research indicates that roxadustat may induce zebrafish hepatotoxicity by down-regulating Notch signaling. This study provides a reference for the clinical use of roxadustat.

Prognostic and clinicopathological significance of fatty acid synthase in breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Aberrant expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) was demonstrated in various tumors including breast cancer. A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the role of FASN in breast cancer development and its potential prognostic significance.

Methods

The Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify studies that evaluated the relationship between FASN expression and overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and disease-free survival (DFS) of breast cancer patients. To analyze the clinicopathological and prognostic values of FASN expression in breast cancer, pooled hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were clustered based on random-effects models. To confirm whether the findings were stable and impartial, a sensitivity analysis was performed, and publication bias was estimated. Data were analyzed using Engauge Digitizer version 5.4 and Stata version 15.0.

Results

Five studies involving 855 participants were included. Patients with higher FASN expression did not have a shorter survival period compared to those with lower FASN expression (summary HR: OS, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.41-1.32; P=0.300]; DFS/RFS, 1.65 [95% CI, 0.61-4.43; P=0.323]). However, increased FASN expression was correlated with large tumor size (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.04-4.00; P=0.038), higher human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positivity (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.05-2.23; P=0.028). No significant associations were observed between FASN expression and histological grade (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.41-2.04; P=0.832), Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.49-2.53; P=0.795), nodal metastasis (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.84-2.38; P=0.183), Ki-67 labelling index (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.15-2.63; P=0.533), estrogen receptor (ER) status (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.61-1.32; P=0.586), or progesterone receptor (PR) status (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.29-1.56; P=0.354).

Conclusion

FASN is associated with HER2 expression and may contribute to tumor growth, but it has no significant impact on the overall prognosis of breast cancer.

Monoacylglycerol lipase regulates macrophage polarization and cancer progression in uveal melanoma and pan-cancer

Background

Although lipid metabolism has been proven to play a key role in the development of cancer, its significance in uveal melanoma (UM) has not yet been elucidated in the available literature.

Methods

To identify the expression patterns of lipid metabolism in 80 UM patients from the TCGA database, 47 genes involved in lipid metabolism were analyzed. Consensus clustering revealed two distinct molecular groups. ESTIMATE, TIMER, and ssGSEA analyses were done to identify the differences between the two subgroups in tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune state. Using Cox regression and Lasso regression analysis, a risk model based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was developed. To validate the expression of monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) and immune infiltration in diverse malignancies, a pan-cancer cohort from the UCSC database was utilized. Next, a single-cell sequencing analysis on UM patients from the GEO data was used to characterize the lipid metabolism in TME and the role of MGLL in UM. Finally, in vitro investigations were utilized to study the involvement of MGLL in UM.

Results

Two molecular subgroups of UM patients have considerably varied survival rates. The majority of DEGs between the two subgroups were associated with immune-related pathways. Low immune scores, high tumor purity, a low number of immune infiltrating cells, and a comparatively low immunological state were associated with a more favorable prognosis. An examination of GO and KEGG data demonstrated that the risk model based on genes involved with lipid metabolism can accurately predict survival in patients with UM. It has been demonstrated that MGLL, a crucial gene in this paradigm, promotes the proliferation, invasion, and migration of UM cells. In addition, we discovered that MGLL is strongly expressed in macrophages, specifically M2 macrophages, which may play a function in the M2 polarization of macrophages and M2 macrophage activation in cancer cells.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that the risk model based on lipid metabolism may be useful for predicting the prognosis of patients with UM. By promoting macrophage M2 polarization, MGLL contributes to the evolution of malignancy in UM, suggesting that it may be a therapeutic target for UM.

The role of noncoding RNAs in cancer lipid metabolism

Research on noncoding ribonucleic acids (ncRNAs) is mostly and broadly focused on microRNAs (miRNAs), cyclic RNAs (circRNAs), and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), which have been confirmed to play important roles in tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Specifically, recent studies have shown that ncRNAs contribute to tumorigenesis and tumor development by mediating changes in enzymes related to lipid metabolism. The purpose of this review is to discuss the characterized ncRNAs involved in the lipid metabolism of tumors to highlight ncRNA-mediated lipid metabolism-related enzyme expression in malignant tumors and its importance to tumor development. In this review, we describe the types of ncRNA and the mechanism of tumor lipid metabolism and analyze the important role of ncRNA in tumor lipid metabolism and its future prospects from the perspectives of ncRNA biological function and lipid metabolic enzyme classification. However, several critical issues still need to be resolved. Because ncRNAs can affect tumor processes by regulating lipid metabolism enzymes, in the future, we can study the unique role of ncRNAs from four aspects: disease prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Therefore, in the future, the development of ncRNA-targeted therapy will become a hot direction and shoulder a major task in the medical field.

Analysis and identification of the necroptosis landscape on therapy and prognosis in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the urinary system, but the current therapeutic strategy based on chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy cannot meet the treatment needs, mainly owing to the endogenous or acquired apoptotic resistance of cancer cells. Targeting necroptosis provides a novel strategy for chemotherapy and targeted drugs and improves the efficacy of ICIs because of strong immunogenicity of necroptosis. Therefore, we systemically analyzed the necroptosis landscape on therapy and prognosis in BLCA. We first divided BLCA patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database into two necroptosis-related clusters (C1 and C2). Necroptosis C2 showed a significantly better prognosis than C1, and the differential genes of C2 and C1 were mainly related to the immune response according to GO and KEGG analyses. Next, we constructed a novel necroptosis-related gene (NRG) signature consisting of SIRT6, FASN, GNLY, FNDC4, SRC, ANXA1, AIM2, and IKBKB to predict the survival of TCGA-BLCA cohort, and the accuracy of the NRG score was also verified by external datasets. In addition, a nomogram combining NRG score and several clinicopathological features was established to more accurately and conveniently predict the BLCA patient’s survival. We also found that the NRG score was significantly related to the infiltration levels of CD8 T cells, NK cells, and iDC cells, the gene expression of CTLA4, PD-1, TIGIT, and LAG3 of TME, and the sensitivity to chemotherapy and targeted agents in BLCA patients. In conclusion, the NRG score has an excellent performance in evaluating the prognosis, clinicopathologic features, tumor microenvironment (TME), and therapeutic sensitivity of BLCA patients, which could be utilized as a guide for chemotherapy, ICI therapy, and combination therapy.

Targeting Strategies for Aberrant Lipid Metabolism Reprogramming and the Immune Microenvironment in Esophageal Cancer: A Review

Esophageal cancer is of high importance to occurrence, development, and treatment resistance. As evidenced by recent studies, pathways (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin, AMPK, and Hippo) are critical to the proliferation, differentiation, and self-renewal of esophageal cancer. In addition, the above pathways play a certain role in regulating esophageal cancer and act as potential therapeutic targets. Over the past few years, the function of lipid metabolism in controlling tumor cells and immune cells has aroused extensive attention. It has been reported that there are intricate interactions between lipid metabolism reprogramming between immune and esophageal cancer cells, whereas molecular mechanisms should be studied in depth. Immune cells have been commonly recognized as a vital player in the esophageal cancer microenvironment, having complex crosstalk with cancer cells. It is increasingly evidenced that the function of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is significantly correlated with abnormal lipid metabolism. In this review, the latest findings in lipid metabolism reprogramming in TME are summarized, and the above findings are linked to esophageal cancer progression. Aberrant lipid metabolism and associated signaling pathways are likely to serve as a novel strategy to treat esophageal cancer through lipid metabolism reprogramming.

A distinct lipid metabolism signature of acute myeloid leukemia with prognostic value

Background

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly aggressive hematological malignancy characterized by extensive genetic abnormalities that might affect the prognosis and provide potential drug targets for treatment. Reprogramming of lipid metabolism plays important roles in tumorigenesis and progression and has been newly recognized a new hallmark of malignancy, and some related molecules in the signal pathways could be prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. However, the clinical value of lipid metabolism reprogramming in AML has not been systematically explored. In this study, we aim to explore the clinical value of lipid metabolism reprogramming and develop a prognostic risk signature for AML.

Methods

We implemented univariate Cox regression analysis to identify the prognosis-related lipid metabolism genes, and then performed LASSO analysis to develop the risk signature with six lipid metabolism-related genes (LDLRAP1, PNPLA6, DGKA, PLA2G4A, CBR1, and EBP). The risk scores of samples were calculated and divided into low- and high-risk groups by the median risk score.

Results

Survival analysis showed the high-risk group hold the significantly poorer outcomes than the low-risk group. The signature was validated in the GEO datasets and displayed a robust prognostic value in the stratification analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed the signature was an independent prognostic factor for AML patients and could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in clinical evaluation. Furthermore, the risk signature was also found to be closely related to immune landscape and immunotherapy response in AML.

Conclusions

Overall, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of lipid metabolism in AML and constructed a risk signature with six genes related to lipid metabolism for the malignancy, prognosis, and immune landscape of AML, and our study might contribute to better understanding in the use of metabolites and metabolic pathways as the potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AML.

CRISPR/Cas9 application in cancer therapy: a pioneering genome editing tool

The progress of genetic engineering in the 1970s brought about a paradigm shift in genome editing technology. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system is a flexible means to target and modify particular DNA sequences in the genome. Several applications of CRISPR/Cas9 are presently being studied in cancer biology and oncology to provide vigorous site-specific gene editing to enhance its biological and clinical uses. CRISPR's flexibility and ease of use have enabled the prompt achievement of almost any preferred alteration with greater efficiency and lower cost than preceding modalities. Also, CRISPR/Cas9 technology has recently been applied to improve the safety and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies and defeat tumor cell resistance to conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The current review summarizes the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in cancer therapy. We also discuss the present obstacles and contemplate future possibilities in this context.

Association between fatty acid synthase and adipophilin expression in triple‑negative breast cancer

It is well known that cancer cells produce energy via anaerobic glycolysis. Lipid metabolism is often upregulated in numerous types of cancer. Our previous study demonstrated that adipophilin (ADP), a lipid-associated protein, was a poor prognostic indicator in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the mechanism of ADP expression in TNBC remains unclear. Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is a crucial enzyme in de novo fatty acid synthesis, and its upregulation has been reported in several types of carcinomas; however, to the best of our knowledge, the association of FASN and ADP in TNBC remains unclear. The present study analysed the association between FASN and ADP expression and the prognostic significance of FASN in TNBC. Using immunohistochemical methods and tissue microarrays, the present study examined FASN expression in 61 patients with TNBC. Overall and relapse-free survival and their risk factors were analysed for FASN expression and compared with ADP expression. A total of 40 (65.6%) patients were classified as FASN-high (score ≥120), and this was significantly associated with a lower Ki-67 labelling index (P=0.011). FASN expression was not associated with relapse-free survival and overall survival. FASN-high was negatively associated with ADP expression (P=0.041). The results of the present study revealed that FASN-high was associated with a lack of ADP expression and a lower Ki-67 labelling index. These results indicated that de novo fatty acid synthesis by FASN is not the main pathway of lipogenesis and the source of energy in cancer cells of ADP-positive highly proliferative TNBC.

Integrated Analyses Identify Key Molecules and Reveal the Potential Mechanism of miR-182-5p/FOXO1 Axis in Alcoholic Liver Disease

Background: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases worldwide. However, the potential molecular mechanism in ALD development remains unclear. The objective of this work was to identify key molecules and demonstrate the underlying regulatory mechanisms.

Methods: RNA-seq datasets were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and key molecules in ALD development were identified with bioinformatics analysis. Alcoholic liver disease mouse and cell models were constructed using Lieber-DeCarli diets and alcohol medium, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were conducted to confirm the differential expression level. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to explore the targeting regulatory relationship. Overexpression and knockdown experiments were applied to reveal the potential molecular mechanism in ALD development.

Results: Between ALD patients and healthy controls, a total of 416 genes and 21 microRNAs (miRNAs) with significantly differential expression were screened. A comprehensive miRNA-mRNA network was established; within this network, the miR-182-5p/FOXO1 axis was considered a significant pathway in ALD lipid metabolism. Mouse and cell experiments validated that miR-182-5p was substantially higher in ALD than in normal livers, whereas the expression of FOXO1 was dramatically decreased by alcohol consumption (P < 0.05). Next, dual-luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that miR-182-5p directly targets the binding site of the FOXO1 3′UTR and inhibits its mRNA and protein expression. In addition, miR-182-5p was found to promote hepatic lipid accumulation via targeting the FOXO1 signaling pathway, and inhibition of the miR-182-5p/FOXO1 axis improved hepatic triglyceride (TG) deposition in ALD by regulating downstream genes involved in lipid metabolism.

Conclusion: In summary, key molecules were identified in ALD development and a comprehensive miRNA–mRNA network was established. Meanwhile, our results suggested that miR-182-5p significantly increases lipid accumulation in ALD by targeting FOXO1, thereby providing novel scientific insights and potential therapeutic targets for ALD.