Fatty Acid Synthase Is the Key Regulator of Fatty Acid Metabolism and Is Related to Immunotherapy in Bladder Cancer

Glioblastoma cells secrete ICAM1 via FASN signaling to promote glioma-associated macrophage infiltration

Glioma-associated macrophages (GAMs) constitute the most abundant subset of immune cells in the glioblastoma (GBM) microenvironment, but the underlying mechanism of intense infiltration needs to be elucidated. In this study, we found that GBM cells secrete ICAM1 via FASN signaling to promote GAM infiltration. FASN expression is correlated with GAM density in GBM patients. In vitro experiments revealed that FASN regulates the type-I interferon pathway, particularly STAT1 expression. Moreover, disrupting FASN-STAT1 signaling through the overexpression or inhibition of FASN or STAT1 in GBM cells strongly influences microglial recruitment. Additionally, ICAM1 acts as a direct transcriptional candidate of FASN-STAT1 and a paracrine soluble factor, recruiting microglia to GBM tumors. This study revealed crosstalk between GBM cells and GAMs through FASN-STAT1-ICAM1 signaling to promote microglial infiltration, suggesting potential strategies for treating GBM patients.

Construction of M2 macrophage-related gene signature for predicting prognosis and revealing different immunotherapy response in bladder cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer development is closely associated with the dynamic interaction and communication between M2 macrophages and tumor cells. However, specific biomarkers for targeting M2 macrophages in immunotherapy remain limited and require further investigation.

METHODS

In this study, we identified key co-expressed genes in M2 macrophages and developed gene signatures to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in patients. Public database provided the bioinformatics data used in the analysis. We created and verified an M2 macrophage-related gene signature in these datasets using Lasso-Cox analysis.

RESULTS

The predictive value and immunological functions of our risk model were examined in bladder cancer patients, and 158 genes were found to be significantly positively correlated with M2 macrophages. Moreover, we identified two molecular subgroups of bladder cancer with markedly different immunological profiles and clinical prognoses. The five key risk genes identified in this model were validated, including CALU, ECM1, LRP1, CYTL1, and CCDC102B, demonstrating the model can accurately predict prognosis and identify unique responses to immunotherapy in patients with bladder cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, we constructed and validated a five-gene signature related to M2 macrophages, which shows strong potential for forecasting bladder cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response.

Abnormal changes in metabolites caused by m6A methylation modification: The leading factors that induce the formation of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and their promising potential for clinical application

BACKGROUND

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation modifications have been widely implicated in the metabolic reprogramming of various cell types within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and are essential for meeting the demands of cellular growth and maintaining tissue homeostasis, enabling cells to adapt to the specific conditions of the TME. An increasing number of research studies have focused on the role of m6A modifications in glucose, amino acid and lipid metabolism, revealing their capacity to induce aberrant changes in metabolite levels. These changes may in turn trigger oncogenic signaling pathways, leading to substantial alterations within the TME. Notably, certain metabolites, including lactate, succinate, fumarate, 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), glutamate, glutamine, methionine, S-adenosylmethionine, fatty acids and cholesterol, exhibit pronounced deviations from normal levels. These deviations not only foster tumorigenesis, proliferation and angiogenesis but also give rise to an immunosuppressive TME, thereby facilitating immune evasion by the tumor.

AIM OF REVIEW

The primary objective of this review is to comprehensively discuss the regulatory role of m6A modifications in the aforementioned metabolites and their potential impact on the development of an immunosuppressive TME through metabolic alterations.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

This review aims to elaborate on the intricate networks governed by the m6A-metabolite-TME axis and underscores its pivotal role in tumor progression. Furthermore, we delve into the potential implications of the m6A-metabolite-TME axis for the development of novel and targeted therapeutic strategies in cancer research.

Cannabis vaping elicits transcriptomic and metabolomic changes involved in inflammatory, oxidative stress, and cancer pathways in human bronchial epithelial cells

The increasing shift from cannabis smoking to cannabis vaping is largely driven by the perception that vaping to form an aerosol represents a safer alternative to smoking and is a form of consumption appealing to youth. Herein, we compared the chemical composition and receptor-mediated activity of cannabis smoke extract (CaSE) to cannabis vaping extract (CaVE) along with the biological response in human bronchial epithelial cells. Chemical analysis using HPLC and GC/MS revealed that cannabis vaping aerosol contained fewer toxicants than smoke; CaSE and CaVE contained teratogens, carcinogens, and respiratory toxicants. A bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based biosensor detected the receptor-mediated activity of the extracts, primarily driven by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) concentration. RNA-sequencing showed both CaSE and CaVE induced similar transcriptional responses, significantly upregulating genes within pathways related to inflammation, cancer, and cellular stress. This was paralleled by downregulation of pathways related to lipid synthesis and metabolism from both CaSE and CaVE. Targeted metabolomics revealed significant changes in metabolites involved in lipid and membrane metabolism, energy production, nucleotide/DNA/RNA pathways, and oxidative stress response, suggesting potential impairment of lung epithelial cell repair and function. In addition, the upregulation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) indicates epigenetic changes potentially contributing to inflammation, oxidative stress, and an increased risk of cancer. These findings challenge the notion that cannabis vaping is risk-free, highlighting an urgent need for comprehensive research into its respiratory health effects. This comparison of cannabis consumption methods offers insights that could inform public health policies and raise consumer awareness regarding the potential risks of inhaling cannabis aerosol.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cannabis use is increasing worldwide amid broad acceptance and legalization. The prevalence of traditional smoking is diminishing in favor of vaping dry flower. This is the first study to provide initial evidence that cannabis aerosol contains carcinogenic, teratogenic, and respiratory toxicants that induce transcriptional responses in epithelial cells analogous to those from cannabis smoke, suggesting potential adverse pulmonary effects.

Exploring the role of metabolic pathways in TNBC immunotherapy: insights from single-cell and spatial transcriptomics

The article provides an overview of the current understanding of the interplay between metabolic pathways and immune function in the context of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). It highlights recent advancements in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics technologies, which have revolutionized the analysis of tumor heterogeneity and the immune microenvironment in TNBC. The review emphasizes the crucial role of metabolic reprogramming in modulating immune cell function, discussing how specific metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, can directly impact the activity and phenotypes of various immune cell populations within the TNBC tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, the article explores the implications of these metabolic-immune interactions for the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies in TNBC, suggesting that strategies targeting metabolic pathways may enhance the responsiveness to ICI treatments. Finally, the review outlines future directions and the potential for combination therapies that integrate metabolic modulation with immunotherapeutic approaches, offering promising avenues for improving clinical outcomes for TNBC patients.

Identification of inflammation related gene signatures for bladder cancer prognosis prediction

Early diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer are crucial, and since inflammation plays a role in all stages of bladder cancer, this study aims to develop a model based on inflammation-related genes to accurately predict patient prognosis. The data were initially processed through differential analysis and prognostic correlation analysis, then a Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was constructed by M-cohort and a nomogram was designed to increase the model readability. The T-cohort was used for internal validation, with the GSE32894 and Imvigor210 cohorts used as external data to verify the model's accuracy. The model's predictive ability was verified for the prognosis of patients of different ages, gender, tumor stage, and tumour grade. The GSE3167, GSE13507 and GeneExpression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) datasets and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database were used to verify the expression of the inflammation-related genes, which were confirmed by real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A comprehensive analysis of the model's inflammation-related genes, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) enrichment analysis, and immune-related analysis were also performed. Both internal and external data validations confirmed that the developed model can accurately predict the prognosis across different patient populations. Hierarchical validation results demonstrated that the model's predictive power is reliable for various patient stratifications. The expression of inflammation-related genes was consistent across The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, GSE3167 dataset, GSE13507 dataset, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database, and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database, and was further validated by real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that patients in the high-risk (H-risk) group exhibited a variety of tumors. Meanwhile, patients in the low-risk (L-risk) group may be candidates for immunotherapy, whereas those in the high-risk group are more likely to benefit from chemotherapy. The model of inflammation-related genes can accurately predict bladder cancer patient prognosis, with MEST, FASN, KRT6B, and RGS2 anticipated to become new prognostic bladder cancer markers.

Long noncoding RNA UCA1 inhibits epirubicin-induced apoptosis by activating PPARα-mediated lipid metabolism

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, and abnormal lipid metabolism is associated with drug resistance in bladder cancer cells. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) UCA1 is overexpressed in bladder cancer, but its functional contribution to lipid metabolism remains uncharacterized. In this study, we demonstrated that lncRNA UCA1 inhibits epirubicin-induced cell apoptosis by supporting abnormal lipid metabolism in bladder cancer cells. Mechanistically, lncRNA UCA1 promotes lipid accumulation in vitro and in vivo by upregulating PPARα mRNA and protein expression, which is mediated by miR-30a-3p. Knockdown of lncRNA UCA1 increased epirubicin-induced apoptosis via miR-30a-3p/PPARα and downstream p-AKT/p-GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling. Furthermore, mixed free fatty acids upregulated lncRNA UCA1 expression by promoting recruitment of the transcription factor RXRα to the lncRNA UCA1 promoter. These findings were verified in a mouse xenograft model and are consistent with the expression patterns in human bladder cancer patients. Overall, these findings establish the role of lncRNA UCA1 in lipid metabolism and bladder cancer cell resistance to epirubicin, suggesting that lncRNA UCA1 may serve as a candidate target for enhancing bladder cancer chemotherapy.

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is a tumor-cell-intrinsic metabolic checkpoint restricting T-cell immunity

Fatty acid synthase (FASN)-catalyzed endogenous lipogenesis is a hallmark of cancer metabolism. However, whether FASN is an intrinsic mechanism of tumor cell defense against T cell immunity remains unexplored. To test this hypothesis, here we combined bioinformatic analysis of the FASN-related immune cell landscape, real-time assessment of cell-based immunotherapy efficacy in CRISPR/Cas9-based FASN gene knockout (FASN KO) cell models, and mathematical and mechanistic evaluation of FASN-driven immunoresistance. FASN expression negatively correlates with infiltrating immune cells associated with cancer suppression, cytolytic activity signatures, and HLA-I expression. Cancer cells engineered to carry a loss-of-function mutation in FASN exhibit an enhanced cytolytic response and an accelerated extinction kinetics upon interaction with cytokine-activated T cells. Depletion of FASN results in reduced carrying capacity, accompanied by the suppression of mitochondrial OXPHOS and strong downregulation of electron transport chain complexes. Targeted FASN depletion primes cancer cells for mitochondrial apoptosis as it synergizes with BCL-2/BCL-XL-targeting BH3 mimetics to render cancer cells more susceptible to T-cell-mediated killing. FASN depletion prevents adaptive induction of PD-L1 in response to interferon-gamma and reduces constitutive overexpression of PD-L1 by abolishing PD-L1 post-translational palmitoylation. FASN is a novel tumor cell-intrinsic metabolic checkpoint that restricts T cell immunity and may be exploited to improve the efficacy of T cell-based immunotherapy.

Two metabolic enzymes, LDH and FASN, serum levels in Bladder cancer patients

Background

Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and is associated with high treatment costs and mortality. The role of different enzymes and molecules in this cancer has been the subject of extensive research in recent years. Among these, the role of metabolic enzymes such as FASN and LDH has been studied less than others. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the role of FASN and LDH in bladder cancer patients.

Methods

One hundred cases diagnosed with bladder cancer and 50 sex-age- matched healthy individuals as control were examined. FASN and LDH serum levels in both patients and controls were determined by human-specific sandwich ELISA kits.

Results

Serum levels of FASN and LDH elevated in bladder cancer patients in comparison to healthy individuals (P= 0.03, P= 0.01, respectively). We also found that than higher stages of bladder cancer (III-IV) had higher serum levels of LDH and FASN compared to early stages (I-II) (P= 0.007 and P= 0.006, respectively). Moreover, there was a statistically significant association between smoking history and serum FASN levels in bladder cancer patients (P=0.015). However, there were no remarkable associations between the serum levels of LDH and FASN with other clinicopathological features including sex, age, tumor grade, and tumor size.

Conclusion

The data indicate that LDH and FASN may be good and useful biomarkers in the diagnosis and clinical management of bladder cancer. However, further studies are needed.

Prognostic analysis of anoikis-related genes in bladder cancer: An observational study

Anoikis is proved to play a crucial role in the development of cancers. However, the impact of anoikis on the prognosis of bladder cancer (BLCA) is currently unknown. Thus, this study aimed to find potential effect of anoikis in BLCA. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-BLCA and GSE13507 cohorts were downloaded from TCGA and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, respectively. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened between BLCA and normal groups, which intersected with anoikis-related genes to yield anoikis-related DEGs (AR DEGs). Univariate COX, rbsurv, and multivariate COX analyses were adopted in order to build a prognostic risk model. The differences of risk score in the different clinical subgroups and the relevance between survival rate and clinical characteristics were explored as well. Finally, chemotherapy drug sensitivity in different risk groups was analyzed. In total, 78 AR DEGs were acquired and a prognostic signature was build based on the 6 characteristic genes (CALR, FASN, CSPG4, HGF, INHBB, SATB1), where the patients of low-risk group had longer survival time. The survival rate of BLCA patients was significantly differential in different groups of age, stage, smoking history, pathologic-T, and pathologic-N. The IC50 of 56 drugs showed significant differences between 2 risk groups, such as imatinib, docetaxel, and dasatinib. At last, the results of real time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) demonstrated that the expression trend of CALR, HGF, and INHBB was consistent with the result obtained previously based on public databases. Taken together, this study identified 6 anoikis-related characteristic genes (CALR, FASN, CSPG4, HGF, INHBB, SATB1) for the prognosis of BLCA patients, providing a scientific reference for further research on BLCA.

Obesity enhances the response to neoadjuvant anti-PD1 therapy in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have demonstrated that obesity may impact the efficacy of anti-PD1 therapy, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, our objective was to determine the prognostic value of obesity in patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) treated with pembrolizumab and establish a subtype based on fatty acid metabolism-related genes (FAMRGs) for immunotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We enrolled a total of 56 patients with OTSCC who underwent neoadjuvant anti-PD1 therapy. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and immunohistochemistry staining were performed. Additionally, we acquired the gene expression profiles of pan-cancer samples and conducted GSEA and KEGG pathway analysis. Moreover, data from TCGA, MSigDB, UALCAN, GEPIA and TIMER were utilized to construct the FAMRGs subtype.

RESULTS

Our findings indicate that high Body Mass Index (BMI) was significantly associated with improved PFS (HR = 0.015; 95% CI, 0.001 to 0.477; p = 0.015), potentially attributed to increased infiltration of PD1 + T cells. A total of 91 differentially expressed FAMRGs were identified between the response and non-response groups in pan-cancer patients treated with immunotherapy. Of these, 6 hub FAMRGs (ACSL5, PLA2G2D, PROCA1, IL4I1, UBE2L6 and PSME1) were found to affect PD-1 expression and T cell infiltration in HNSCC, which may impact the efficacy of anti-PD1 therapy.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that obesity serves as a robust prognostic predictor for patients with OTSCC undergoing neoadjuvant anti-PD1 therapy. Furthermore, the expression of 6 hub FAMRGs (ACSL5, PLA2G2D, PROCA1, IL4I1, UBE2L6 and PSME1) plays a pivotal role in the context of anti-PD1 therapy and deserves further investigation.

Hepatotoxicity assessment of innovative nutritional supplements based on olive-oil formulations enriched with natural antioxidants

Introduction

This study focuses on the assessment of extra virgin olive-oil and olive fruit-based formulations enriched with natural antioxidants as potential nutritional supplements for alleviating symptoms and long-term consequences of illnesses whose molecular pathophysiology is affected by oxidative stress and inflammation, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

Besides evaluating cell viability and proliferation capacity of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells exposed to formulations in culture, hepatotoxicity was also considered as an additional safety measure using quantitative real-time PCR on RNA samples isolated from the cell cultures and applying approaches of targeted molecular analysis to uncover potential pathway effects through gene expression profiling. Furthermore, the formulations investigated in this work contrast the addition of natural extract with chemical forms and evaluate the antioxidant delivery mode on cell toxicity.

Results

The results indicate minimal cellular toxicity and a significant beneficial impact on metabolic molecular pathways in HepG2 cell cultures, thus paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies using olive-oil and antioxidants in dietary supplements to minimize the long-term effects of oxidative stress and inflammatory signals in individuals being suffered by disorders like AD.

Discussion

Overall, the experimental design and the data obtained support the notion of applying innovative molecular methodologies and research techniques to evidently advance the delivery, as well as the scientific impact and validation of nutritional supplements and dietary products to improve public health and healthcare outcomes.

Whole transcriptome sequencing identifies a competitive endogenous RNA network that regulates the immunity of bladder cancer

Several types of non-coding RNAs such as circRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs have been identified to regulate mRNAs through the mechanism known as the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. To explore the role of the ceRNA regulatory network in the immune microenvironment of bladder cancer, whole-transcriptome sequencing of bladder tumor and its peritumoral tissues from 38 bladder cancer patients, with a total of 63 samples, was performed to screen differentially expressed circ-, lnc-, mi-, and mRNAs to construct a circ/lnc-mi-mRNA regulatory network with pruning algorithms. We excavated a key immune-related gene BDNF to build the final ceRNA network as hsa-miR-107 sponged by hsa-circ-000211, AC108488.1, and LINC00163. Finally, a meta-analysis of 7 public datasets demonstrated that low expression of BDNF and high expression of hsa-miR-107 were associated with longer survival. Our study identified a ceRNA regulatory network as a potentially new prognostic marker and molecular therapeutic target of bladder cancer.

Epigenetic regulation of H3K27me3 in laying hens with fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome induced by high-energy and low-protein diets

BACKGROUND

Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) in the modern poultry industry is primarily caused by nutrition. Despite encouraging progress on FLHS, the mechanism through which nutrition influences susceptibility to FLHS is still lacking in terms of epigenetics.

RESULTS

In this study, we analyzed the genome-wide patterns of trimethylated lysine residue 27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3) enrichment by chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq), and examined its association with transcriptomes in healthy and FLHS hens. The study results indicated that H3K27me3 levels were increased in the FLHS hens on a genome-wide scale. Additionally, H3K27me3 was found to occupy the entire gene and the distant intergenic region, which may function as silencer-like regulatory elements. The analysis of transcription factor (TF) motifs in hypermethylated peaks has demonstrated that 23 TFs are involved in the regulation of liver metabolism and development. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in fatty acid metabolism, amino acid, and carbohydrate metabolism. The hub gene identified from PPI network is fatty acid synthase (FASN). Combined ChIP-seq and transcriptome analysis revealed that the increased H3K27me3 and down-regulated genes have significant enrichment in the ECM-receptor interaction, tight junction, cell adhesion molecules, adherens junction, and TGF-beta signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the trimethylation modification of H3K27 has been shown to have significant regulatory function in FLHS, mediating the expression of crucial genes associated with the ECM-receptor interaction pathway. This highlights the epigenetic mechanisms of H3K27me3 and provides insights into exploring core regulatory targets and nutritional regulation strategies in FLHS.

Unmasking the Metabolite Signature of Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review

Bladder cancer (BCa) research relying on Omics approaches has increased over the last few decades, improving the understanding of BCa pathology and contributing to a better molecular classification of BCa subtypes. To gain further insight into the molecular profile underlying the development of BCa, a systematic literature search was performed in PubMed until November 2023, following the PRISMA guidelines. This search enabled the identification of 25 experimental studies using mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance-based approaches to characterize the metabolite signature associated with BCa. A total of 1562 metabolites were identified to be altered by BCa in different types of samples. Urine samples displayed a higher likelihood of containing metabolites that are also present in bladder tumor tissue and cell line cultures. The data from these comparisons suggest that increased concentrations of L-isoleucine, L-carnitine, oleamide, palmitamide, arachidonic acid and glycoursodeoxycholic acid and decreased content of deoxycytidine, 5-aminolevulinic acid and pantothenic acid should be considered components of a BCa metabolome signature. Overall, molecular profiling of biological samples by metabolomics is a promising approach to identifying potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of different BCa subtypes. However, future studies are needed to understand its biological significance in the context of BCa and to validate its clinical application.

The anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf extract: Modulating cholesterol homeostasis in hepatocytes via PPARα pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Polyporaceae, P.cocos), which is born on the pine root, has a history of more than two thousand years of medicine in China. P.cocos was first recorded in the Shennong's Herbal Classic, studies have proved its lipid-lowering effect.

AIM OF STUDY

The aim of study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of P.cocos extract on hyperlipidemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged 9-12 weeks were intraperitoneally (IP) injected with Triton-WR 1339 to establish an acute hyperlipidemia model. At 0 h and 20 h after the model was established, low and high doses of P.cocos extract or simvastatin were given twice. After 48 h, the rats were sacrificed, and liver and serum samples were collected for analysis. The cell model was constructed by treating L02 cells with 1% fat emulsion-10% FBS-RPMI 1640 medium for 48 h. At the same time, low and high doses of P.cocos extract and simvastatin were administered. Oil red O staining was used to evaluate the lipid accumulation in the cells, and H&E staining was used to evaluate the liver lesions of rats. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to detect the expressions of lipid metabolism-related genes.

RESULTS

P.cocos extract relieved lipid accumulation in vitro and alleviated hyperlipidemia in vivo. Both gene and protein expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) were shown to be up-regulated by P.cocos extract. Additionally, P.cocos extract down-regulated the expressions of fatty acid synthesis-related genes sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), while up-regulated the expressions of cholesterol metabolism-related genes liver X receptor-α (LXRα), ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which were reversed by the treatment with the PPARα inhibitor GW6471.

CONCLUSION

P.cocos extract ameliorates hyperlipidemia and lipid accumulation by regulating cholesterol homeostasis in hepatocytes through PPARα pathway. This study provides evidence that supplementation with P.cocos extract could be a potential strategy for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) signalome: A molecular guide for precision oncology

The initial excitement generated more than two decades ago by the discovery of drugs targeting fatty acid synthase (FASN)-catalyzed de novo lipogenesis for cancer therapy was short-lived. However, the advent of the first clinical-grade FASN inhibitor (TVB-2640; denifanstat), which is currently being studied in various phase II trials, and the exciting advances in understanding the FASN signalome are fueling a renewed interest in FASN-targeted strategies for the treatment and prevention of cancer. Here, we provide a detailed overview of how FASN can drive phenotypic plasticity and cell fate decisions, mitochondrial regulation of cell death, immune escape and organ-specific metastatic potential. We then present a variety of FASN-targeted therapeutic approaches that address the major challenges facing FASN therapy. These include limitations of current FASN inhibitors and the lack of precision tools to maximize the therapeutic potential of FASN inhibitors in the clinic. Rethinking the role of FASN as a signal transducer in cancer pathogenesis may provide molecularly driven strategies to optimize FASN as a long-awaited target for cancer therapeutics.

Identification of cuproptosis-related lncRNAs with the significance in prognosis and immunotherapy of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Cuproptosis, a recently characterized programmed cell death mechanism, has emerged as a potential contributor to tumorigenesis, metastasis, and immune modulation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have demonstrated diverse regulatory roles in cancer and hold promise as biomarkers. However, the involvement and prognostic significance of cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (CRLs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain poorly understood. Based on TCGA-OSCC data, we integrated single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), the LASSO algorithm, and the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) algorithm. We identified 11 CRLs through differential expression, Spearman correlation, and univariate Cox regression analyses. Two distinct CRL-related subtypes were unveiled, delineating divergent survival patterns, tumor microenvironments (TME), and mutation profiles. A robust CRL-based signature (including AC107027.3, AC008011.2, MYOSLID, AC005785.1, AC019080.5, AC020558.2, AC025265.1, FAM27E3, and LINC02367) prognosticated OSCC outcomes, immunotherapy responses, and anti-tumor strategies. Superior predictive power compared to other lncRNA models was demonstrated. Functional assessments confirmed the influence of FAM27E3, LINC02367, and MYOSLID knockdown on OSCC cell behaviors. Remarkably, the CRLs-based signature maintained stability across OSCC patient subgroups, underscoring its clinical potential for survival prediction. This study elucidates CRLs' roles in TME of OSCC and establishes a potential signature for precision therapy.

Identification and experimental validation of Stearoyl-CoA desaturase is a new drug therapeutic target for osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant bone tumor. Fatty acid reprogramming plays an essential role in OS progression. However, new fatty acid related therapeutic targets of OS have not been completely elucidated. Therefore, we firstly identified 113 differentially expressed fatty acid metabolism genes using bioinformatic analysis, 19 of which were found to be associated with OS prognosis. Then, 7 hub genes were screened out and yielded a strong prediction accuracy (AUC value = 0.88, at 3 years) for predicting the survival status of OS patients. Furthermore, we confirmed that SCD was highly expressed in OS cells and patients. And Knock-down of SCD impaired proliferation and migration of OS cells. Moreover, SCD was transcriptionally activated by c-Myc to promote proliferation and migration of OS cells. Finally, SCD inhibitor could significantly induce OS ferroptosis in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, we identified that SCD was a reliable risk factor for OS patients. And SCD was activated by c-Myc. The inhibitor of SCD could significantly impaired OS growth and induce OS ferroptosis, which indicated that SCD was a potential drug target for OS treatment.

Applying machine learning algorithms to develop a survival prediction model for lung adenocarcinoma based on genes related to fatty acid metabolism

Background: The progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) may be related to abnormal fatty acid metabolism (FAM). The present study investigated the relationship between FAM-related genes and LUAD prognosis. Methods: LUAD samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas were collected. The scores of FAM-associated pathways from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes website were calculated using the single sample gene set enrichment analysis. ConsensusClusterPlus and cumulative distribution function were used to classify molecular subtypes for LUAD. Key genes were obtained using limma package, Cox regression analysis, and six machine learning algorithms (GBM, LASSO, XGBoost, SVM, random forest, and decision trees), and a RiskScore model was established. According to the RiskScore model and clinical features, a nomogram was developed and evaluated for its prediction performance using a calibration curve. Differences in immune abnormalities among patients with different subtypes and RiskScores were analyzed by the Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumours using Expression data, CIBERSORT, and single sample gene set enrichment analysis. Patients' drug sensitivity was predicted by the pRRophetic package in R language. Results: LUAD samples had lower scores of FAM-related pathways. Three molecular subtypes (C1, C2, and C3) were defined. Analysis on differential prognosis showed that the C1 subtype had the most favorable prognosis, followed by the C2 subtype, and the C3 subtype had the worst prognosis. The C3 subtype had lower immune infiltration. A total of 12 key genes (SLC2A1, PKP2, FAM83A, TCN1, MS4A1, CLIC6, UBE2S, RRM2, CDC45, IGF2BP1, ANGPTL4, and CD109) were screened and used to develop a RiskScore model. Survival chance of patients in the high-RiskScore group was significantly lower. The low-RiskScore group showed higher immune score and higher expression of most immune checkpoint genes. Patients with a high RiskScore were more likely to benefit from the six anticancer drugs we screened in this study. Conclusion: We developed a RiskScore model using FAM-related genes to help predict LUAD prognosis and develop new targeted drugs.

Identification of tumor-intrinsic drivers of immune exclusion in acral melanoma

Acral melanoma (AM) has distinct characteristics as compared with cutaneous melanoma and exhibits poor response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Tumor-intrinsic mechanisms of immune exclusion have been identified in many cancers but less studied in AM. We characterized clinically annotated tumors from patients diagnosed with AM at our institution in correlation with ICI response using whole transcriptome RNAseq, whole exome sequencing, CD8 immunohistochemistry, and multispectral immunofluorescence imaging. A defined interferon-γ-associated T cell-inflamed gene signature was used to categorize tumors into non-T cell-inflamed and T cell-inflamed phenotypes. In combination with AM tumors from two published studies, we systematically assessed the immune landscape of AM and detected differential gene expression and pathway activation in a non-T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME). Two single-cell(sc) RNAseq AM cohorts and 11 bulk RNAseq cohorts of various tumor types were used for independent validation on pathways associated with lack of ICI response. In total, 892 specimens were included in this study. 72.5% of AM tumors showed low expression of the T cell-inflamed gene signature, with 23.9% of total tumors categorized as the non-T cell-inflamed phenotype. Patients of low CD3+CD8+PD1+ intratumoral T cell density showed poor prognosis. We identified 11 oncogenic pathways significantly upregulated in non-T cell-inflamed relative to T cell-inflamed TME shared across all three acral cohorts (MYC, HGF, MITF, VEGF, EGFR, SP1, ERBB2, TFEB, SREBF1, SOX2, and CCND1). scRNAseq analysis revealed that tumor cell-expressing pathway scores were significantly higher in low versus high T cell-infiltrated AM tumors. We further demonstrated that the 11 pathways were enriched in ICI non-responders compared with responders across cancers, including AM, cutaneous melanoma, triple-negative breast cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Pathway activation was associated with low expression of interferon stimulated genes, suggesting suppression of antigen presentation. Across the 11 pathways, fatty acid synthase and CXCL8 were unifying downstream target molecules suggesting potential nodes for therapeutic intervention. A unique set of pathways is associated with immune exclusion and ICI resistance in AM. These data may inform immunotherapy combinations for immediate clinical translation.

Tumor-intrinsic metabolic reprogramming and how it drives resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment

The development of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies has been instrumental in advancing the field of immunotherapy. Despite the prominence of these treatments, many patients exhibit primary or acquired resistance, rendering them ineffective. For example, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1)/anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) treatments are widely utilized across a range of cancer indications, but the response rate is only 10%-30%. As such, it is necessary for researchers to identify targets and develop drugs that can be used in combination with existing ICB therapies to overcome resistance. The intersection of cancer, metabolism, and the immune system has gained considerable traction in recent years as a way to comprehensively study the mechanisms that drive oncogenesis, immune evasion, and immunotherapy resistance. As a result, new research is continuously emerging in support of targeting metabolic pathways as an adjuvant to ICB to boost patient response and overcome resistance. Due to the plethora of studies in recent years highlighting this notion, this review will integrate the relevant articles that demonstrate how tumor-derived alterations in energy, amino acid, and lipid metabolism dysregulate anti-tumor immune responses and drive resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.

Relationship between Bladder Cancer, Nutritional Supply, and Treatment Strategies: A Comprehensive Review

Bladder cancer (BC) is the predominant neoplasm affecting the urinary system and ranks among the most widespread malignancies globally. The causes of bladder cancer include genetic factors; age; sex; and lifestyle factors, such as imbalanced nutrition, obesity, and metabolic disorders. The lack of proper nutrient intake leads to the development of bladder cancer because insufficient nutrients are consumed to prevent this disease. The purpose of this review was to analyze the nutrients closely linked to the onset and advancement of bladder cancer and to explore the relationship between dietary nutrients and bladder cancer. Particular emphasis was placed on nutrients that are frequently ingested in daily life, including sugar, fat, protein, and others. The focus of this research was to analyze how nutritional intake before and after surgery affects the recovery process of patients who have been diagnosed with bladder cancer. This article seeks to increase awareness among both society and the medical community about the significance of implementing appropriate dietary nutrition to reduce the chances of developing bladder cancer, enhance perioperative care for patients with bladder cancer, and aid in their recuperation.

Identification of tumor-intrinsic drivers of immune exclusion in acral melanoma

Background

Acral melanoma (AM) has distinct characteristics as compared to cutaneous melanoma and exhibits poor response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Tumor-intrinsic mechanisms of immune exclusion have been identified in many cancers but less studied in AM.

Methods

We characterized clinically annotated tumors from patients diagnosed with AM at our institution in correlation with ICI response using whole transcriptome RNAseq, whole exome sequencing, CD8 immunohistochemistry, and multispectral immunofluorescence imaging. A defined interferon-γ-associated T cell-inflamed gene signature was used to categorize tumors into non-T cell-inflamed and T cell-inflamed phenotypes. In combination with AM tumors from two published studies, we systematically assessed the immune landscape of AM and detected differential gene expression and pathway activation in a non-T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME). Two single-cell(sc) RNAseq AM cohorts and 11 bulk RNAseq cohorts of various tumor types were used for independent validation on pathways associated with lack of ICI response. In total, 892 specimens were included in this study.

Results

72.5% of AM tumors showed low expression of the T cell-inflamed gene signature, with 23.9% of total tumors categorized as the non-T cell-inflamed phenotype. Patients of low CD3 + CD8 + PD1 + intratumoral T cell density showed poor prognosis. We identified 11 oncogenic pathways significantly upregulated in non-T cell-inflamed relative to T cell-inflamed TME shared across all three acral cohorts (MYC, HGF, MITF, VEGF, EGFR, SP1, ERBB2, TFEB, SREBF1, SOX2, and CCND1). scRNAseq analysis revealed that tumor cell-expressing pathway scores were significantly higher in low vs high T cell-infiltrated AM tumors. We further demonstrated that the 11 pathways were enriched in ICI non-responders compared to responders across cancers, including acral melanoma, cutaneous melanoma, triple-negative breast cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Pathway activation was associated with low expression of interferon stimulated genes, suggesting suppression of antigen presentation. Across the 11 pathways, fatty acid synthase and CXCL8 were unifying downstream target molecules suggesting potential nodes for therapeutic intervention.

Conclusions

A unique set of pathways is associated with immune exclusion and ICI resistance in AM. These data may inform immunotherapy combinations for immediate clinical translation.

Immunometabolism in the tumor microenvironment and its related research progress

The tumor immune microenvironment has been a research hot spot in recent years. The cytokines and metabolites in the microenvironment can promote the occurrence and development of tumor in various ways and help tumor cells get rid of the surveillance of the immune system and complete immune escape. Many studies have shown that the existence of tumor microenvironment is an important reason for the failure of immunotherapy. The impact of the tumor microenvironment on tumor is a systematic study. The current research on this aspect may be only the tip of the iceberg, and a relative lack of integrity, may be related to the heterogeneity of tumor. This review mainly discusses the current status of glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism in the tumor microenvironment, including the phenotype of glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism in the microenvironment; the effects of these metabolic methods and their metabolites on three important immune cells Impact: regulatory T cells (Tregs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), natural killer cells (NK cells); and the impact of metabolism in the targeted microenvironment on immunotherapy. At the end of this article,the potential relationship between Ferroptosis and the tumor microenvironment in recent years is also briefly described.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Aurantiochytrium sp. on Zebrafish Growth as Determined by Transcriptomics

The marine protist Aurantiochytrium produces several bioactive chemicals, including EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and other critical fish fatty acids. It has the potential to improve growth and fatty acid profiles in aquatic taxa. This study evaluated zebrafish growth performance in response to diets containing 1% to 3% Aurantiochytrium sp. crude extract (TE) and single extract for 56 days. Growth performance was best in the 1% TE group, and therefore, this concentration was used for further analyses of the influence of Aurantiochytrium sp. Levels of hepatic lipase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, acetyl-CoA oxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase increased significantly in response to 1% TE, while malic enzyme activity, carnitine lipid acylase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and malondialdehyde levels decreased. These findings suggest that Aurantiochytrium sp. extract can modulate lipase activity, improve lipid synthesis, and decrease oxidative damage caused by lipid peroxidation. Transcriptome analysis revealed 310 genes that were differentially expressed between the 1% TE group and the control group, including 185 up-regulated genes and 125 down-regulated genes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) pathway analyses of the differentially expressed genes revealed that Aurantiochytrium sp. extracts may influence liver metabolism, cell proliferation, motility, and signal transduction in zebrafish.