Pub Date : 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1038/s41422-026-01221-z
Xinyi Wang, Hong Fu, Qingyang Sun, Boyan Huang, Zhe Xu, Xuzhao Zhai, Chuncao Deng, Laru Peng, Mengdan Zhang, Tianran Peng, An Gong, Jiasui Liu, Zhengzhi Zou, Guangjin Pan, Jiekai Chen, Guangming Wu, Man Zhang, Mingwei Min
A fundamental question in biology is whether all cells age. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) defy the norm as rare normal cells capable of indefinite in vitro passage. However, the mechanisms underlying ESC lineage immortality remain unresolved. Using long-term live-cell imaging to follow the fates of single ESCs, we show that ESC lineage renewal is achieved through sporadic entry into a state characterized by the expression of two-cell embryo-specific markers. During this state, cells undergo asymmetric fate divisions, enriching accumulated DNA damage into one daughter lineage that is destined for elimination, while producing a second lineage that reverts to the pluripotent state. Importantly, the latter lineage exhibits signs of rejuvenation, including reduced DNA damage and enhanced chimeric efficiency. These findings underscore the crucial role of asymmetric cell division in maintaining the long-term health of the ESC lineage against mounting damage within individual cells and provide a potential model for studying cellular aging and rejuvenation in mammalian cells.
{"title":"Asymmetric division in a two-cell-like state rejuvenates embryonic stem cells","authors":"Xinyi Wang, Hong Fu, Qingyang Sun, Boyan Huang, Zhe Xu, Xuzhao Zhai, Chuncao Deng, Laru Peng, Mengdan Zhang, Tianran Peng, An Gong, Jiasui Liu, Zhengzhi Zou, Guangjin Pan, Jiekai Chen, Guangming Wu, Man Zhang, Mingwei Min","doi":"10.1038/s41422-026-01221-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-026-01221-z","url":null,"abstract":"A fundamental question in biology is whether all cells age. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) defy the norm as rare normal cells capable of indefinite in vitro passage. However, the mechanisms underlying ESC lineage immortality remain unresolved. Using long-term live-cell imaging to follow the fates of single ESCs, we show that ESC lineage renewal is achieved through sporadic entry into a state characterized by the expression of two-cell embryo-specific markers. During this state, cells undergo asymmetric fate divisions, enriching accumulated DNA damage into one daughter lineage that is destined for elimination, while producing a second lineage that reverts to the pluripotent state. Importantly, the latter lineage exhibits signs of rejuvenation, including reduced DNA damage and enhanced chimeric efficiency. These findings underscore the crucial role of asymmetric cell division in maintaining the long-term health of the ESC lineage against mounting damage within individual cells and provide a potential model for studying cellular aging and rejuvenation in mammalian cells.","PeriodicalId":9926,"journal":{"name":"Cell Research","volume":"67 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":44.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mechanical forces are emerging physical cues that regulate biochemical signals of immune cells for antitumor immunity. Owing to the lack of precise tools to impose intracellular forces, little is known about whether and how organelle-level forces trigger mechanotransduction for antitumor immunity. Here, we developed a magneto-mechanical force-triggered lysosomal membrane permeabilization (MagLMP) strategy to induce durable macrophage repolarization for in vivo applications. Self-assembled magnetic nanomotors are driven by rotational magnetic fields, facilitating dynamic damage to the lysosomal membrane by a finely tuned torque-induced vortex. Intriguingly, galectin 9 (Gal9) was found to be critical for sensing cyclic MagLMP, which dynamically activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), enhanced activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and induced metabolic alterations for sustained M1-like macrophage repolarization, followed by mounting of antitumor immunity. Through single-cell RNA sequencing of tumor tissues, as well as macrophage depletion-reconstitution models involving intratumoral transfer of Gal9-KO bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and AMPK shRNA-transduced Gal9-KO BMDMs, we confirmed the Gal9-AMPK-NF-κB axis as the essential pathway by which MagLMP functions in antitumor therapy. In a mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma in situ, overall survival was extended after intravenous administration of nanomotors followed by cyclic MagLMP, and one third of mice survived for more than 300 days. Together, these results demonstrate an intracellular mechanical strategy that can dynamically manipulate innate immune responses in vivo, providing a tool for durable immunotherapy through organelle mechanotransduction.
{"title":"Dynamic magneto-mechanical force in lysosomes induces durable macrophage repolarization for antitumor immunity","authors":"Yingze Li, Mengge Zheng, Zhenyan Zhu, Yajuan Zhang, Peng Ning, Haotian Chen, Rui Gao, Chang Xu, Xueyan Wei, Yali Liu, Yingying Wang, Ruimei Zhou, Yuan Li, Zhenguang Li, Cheng Lv, Chen Liu, Junfang Xu, Zihan Guo, Zhixiang Hu, Lan Fang, Ke Wei, Mengying Feng, Changshi Zhou, Yunlang She, Weiyan Sun, Erzhen Chen, Gustavo R. Plaza, Bin He, Jason Miska, Weiwei Yang, Yichao Tang, Haipeng Liu, Chang Chen, Yu Cheng","doi":"10.1038/s41422-025-01217-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-025-01217-1","url":null,"abstract":"Mechanical forces are emerging physical cues that regulate biochemical signals of immune cells for antitumor immunity. Owing to the lack of precise tools to impose intracellular forces, little is known about whether and how organelle-level forces trigger mechanotransduction for antitumor immunity. Here, we developed a magneto-mechanical force-triggered lysosomal membrane permeabilization (MagLMP) strategy to induce durable macrophage repolarization for in vivo applications. Self-assembled magnetic nanomotors are driven by rotational magnetic fields, facilitating dynamic damage to the lysosomal membrane by a finely tuned torque-induced vortex. Intriguingly, galectin 9 (Gal9) was found to be critical for sensing cyclic MagLMP, which dynamically activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), enhanced activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and induced metabolic alterations for sustained M1-like macrophage repolarization, followed by mounting of antitumor immunity. Through single-cell RNA sequencing of tumor tissues, as well as macrophage depletion-reconstitution models involving intratumoral transfer of Gal9-KO bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and AMPK shRNA-transduced Gal9-KO BMDMs, we confirmed the Gal9-AMPK-NF-κB axis as the essential pathway by which MagLMP functions in antitumor therapy. In a mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma in situ, overall survival was extended after intravenous administration of nanomotors followed by cyclic MagLMP, and one third of mice survived for more than 300 days. Together, these results demonstrate an intracellular mechanical strategy that can dynamically manipulate innate immune responses in vivo, providing a tool for durable immunotherapy through organelle mechanotransduction.","PeriodicalId":9926,"journal":{"name":"Cell Research","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":44.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
As innate immune cells in the brain, microglia directly contact excitatory neurons and regulate their activities under various conditions; however, the mechanisms of direct microglia-neuron functional interactions remain largely unknown. Here, we identified one special population of neocortical microglia that specifically associate with the axon initial segments (AISs) of excitatory neurons, and could regulate their activities and contribute to visual perception. We found that brief depolarization of AIS-associated microglia, but not the AIS-non-associated microglia, significantly promoted the action potential firing of related excitatory neurons, which relied mechanistically on microglial K+ release through the outward K+ channel THIK-1. Interestingly, in vivo visual stimulation with drifting gratings evoked microglial transient depolarizations specifically on the processes, which depended on muscarinic receptors and triggered K+ release through THIK-1; meanwhile, visual stimulation induced more robust calcium responses in neurons associated with microglia at their AISs compared with nearby unassociated neurons. Disruption of the AIS-microglia interaction disturbed calcium responses specifically in neurons associated with microglia at their AISs, impaired the coordinated activity of the entire neural ensemble, and thereby affected the visual discrimination behavior of awake mice. Collectively, our findings identified a new type of microglia-neuron functional interaction that may be critical for higher-order brain functions.
{"title":"The axon initial segment-associated microglia regulate neuronal activity and visual perception.","authors":"Yaping Wang,Qiushi Wang,Chen Gao,Shu He,Cheng Wei,Jia Song,Xinli Liu,Xiaoli Liu,Shi Feng,Wen Yao,Wen Wu,Tian-Ming Gao,Siqiang Ren","doi":"10.1038/s41422-026-01218-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-026-01218-8","url":null,"abstract":"As innate immune cells in the brain, microglia directly contact excitatory neurons and regulate their activities under various conditions; however, the mechanisms of direct microglia-neuron functional interactions remain largely unknown. Here, we identified one special population of neocortical microglia that specifically associate with the axon initial segments (AISs) of excitatory neurons, and could regulate their activities and contribute to visual perception. We found that brief depolarization of AIS-associated microglia, but not the AIS-non-associated microglia, significantly promoted the action potential firing of related excitatory neurons, which relied mechanistically on microglial K+ release through the outward K+ channel THIK-1. Interestingly, in vivo visual stimulation with drifting gratings evoked microglial transient depolarizations specifically on the processes, which depended on muscarinic receptors and triggered K+ release through THIK-1; meanwhile, visual stimulation induced more robust calcium responses in neurons associated with microglia at their AISs compared with nearby unassociated neurons. Disruption of the AIS-microglia interaction disturbed calcium responses specifically in neurons associated with microglia at their AISs, impaired the coordinated activity of the entire neural ensemble, and thereby affected the visual discrimination behavior of awake mice. Collectively, our findings identified a new type of microglia-neuron functional interaction that may be critical for higher-order brain functions.","PeriodicalId":9926,"journal":{"name":"Cell Research","volume":"219 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":44.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146056570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Protein structure bridges the sequence–function relationship, enabling deep exploration of biological processes across diverse organisms. Insects, the most diverse animal lineage, accounting for over 50% of all described animal species, provide an exceptional system for exploring sequence–structure–function relationships. Here, we reconstructed a comprehensive and well-resolved phylogeny of 4854 insects, spanning all orders. Leveraging this framework, we created an atlas of 13.29 million predicted protein structures from 824 representative species, including 11.63 million newly predicted structures. Structural clustering revealed that proteins with divergent sequences but similar structures could be effectively grouped together. Structural similarity searches against proteins with well-characterized functions yielded annotations for 7.61 million insect proteins, including up to 14% of previously unannotated proteins. We further identified 750 million remote homologs between insect proteins, many of which trace back to ancient branches of the insect phylogeny. Remarkably, despite extensive sequence divergence, cGAS-like receptors (cGLRs) were structurally conserved across all 824 insects. Experimental assays demonstrated that these structurally identified cGLRs play a crucial role in antiviral defense in the yellow fever mosquito. Our findings highlight the significance of structural genomics for understanding protein function and evolution across the tree of life.
{"title":"Structural genomics sheds light on protein functions and remote homologs across the insect tree of life","authors":"Weiyin Wu, Chunlai Cui, Yixiao Zhu, Jingxuan Chen, Qiancheng Zhuang, Yazhou Wang, Zicheng Liu, Han Gao, Guo-Zheng Ou, Chao Liu, Mei Tao, Yun Chen, Ronghui Pan, Guojie Zhang, Hua Cai, Jinghua Yang, Xue-xin Chen, Xiaofan Zhou, Sibao Wang, Xing-Xing Shen","doi":"10.1038/s41422-026-01220-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-026-01220-0","url":null,"abstract":"Protein structure bridges the sequence–function relationship, enabling deep exploration of biological processes across diverse organisms. Insects, the most diverse animal lineage, accounting for over 50% of all described animal species, provide an exceptional system for exploring sequence–structure–function relationships. Here, we reconstructed a comprehensive and well-resolved phylogeny of 4854 insects, spanning all orders. Leveraging this framework, we created an atlas of 13.29 million predicted protein structures from 824 representative species, including 11.63 million newly predicted structures. Structural clustering revealed that proteins with divergent sequences but similar structures could be effectively grouped together. Structural similarity searches against proteins with well-characterized functions yielded annotations for 7.61 million insect proteins, including up to 14% of previously unannotated proteins. We further identified 750 million remote homologs between insect proteins, many of which trace back to ancient branches of the insect phylogeny. Remarkably, despite extensive sequence divergence, cGAS-like receptors (cGLRs) were structurally conserved across all 824 insects. Experimental assays demonstrated that these structurally identified cGLRs play a crucial role in antiviral defense in the yellow fever mosquito. Our findings highlight the significance of structural genomics for understanding protein function and evolution across the tree of life.","PeriodicalId":9926,"journal":{"name":"Cell Research","volume":"86 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":44.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146057206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1038/s41422-026-01222-y
Qing Ma, Wenjun Xu, Xuan Wang, Haoyu Nie, Yukun Gao, Rui Hu, Zhihao Yang, Xushu Wang, Ta Na, Xiangyi Chen, Zhaoyue Wang, Minglu Xu, Li Shao, Meng Guo, Yanfang Liu, Rongrong Le, Shaorong Gao, Weida Li
Pancreatic β-cell identity loss is increasingly recognized as a critical pathogenic contributor to β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the specific mechanism remains to be characterized. In this study, we demonstrate that zinc accumulation contributes to β-cell identity loss during diabetes progression in both human and mouse islets. Using a model of human embryonic stem cell-derived islets (SC-islets), we reveal that accumulated zinc triggers the integrated stress response (ISR), with elevated ATF4 expression in SC-β cells. This, in turn, initiates expression of the α cell-specific transcription factor ARX, resulting in the conversion of β cells to α cells, thus forming a zinc-ATF4-ARX regulatory axis. Like primary β cells, SC-β cells also undergo identity loss after transplantation into diabetic animals, which can be prevented by an ISR inhibitor, resulting in improved glycemic control. Furthermore, both genetic depletion and chemical inhibition of zinc accumulation effectively safeguard SC-β cells from identity loss and enhance their efficacy in diabetic animals. Our study thus reveals a pathogenic mechanism in which zinc accumulation induces β-cell identity loss through lineage-tracing approaches and proposes a protective strategy to counteract this process.
{"title":"Zinc accumulation-induced integrated stress response triggers β-cell identity loss","authors":"Qing Ma, Wenjun Xu, Xuan Wang, Haoyu Nie, Yukun Gao, Rui Hu, Zhihao Yang, Xushu Wang, Ta Na, Xiangyi Chen, Zhaoyue Wang, Minglu Xu, Li Shao, Meng Guo, Yanfang Liu, Rongrong Le, Shaorong Gao, Weida Li","doi":"10.1038/s41422-026-01222-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-026-01222-y","url":null,"abstract":"Pancreatic β-cell identity loss is increasingly recognized as a critical pathogenic contributor to β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the specific mechanism remains to be characterized. In this study, we demonstrate that zinc accumulation contributes to β-cell identity loss during diabetes progression in both human and mouse islets. Using a model of human embryonic stem cell-derived islets (SC-islets), we reveal that accumulated zinc triggers the integrated stress response (ISR), with elevated ATF4 expression in SC-β cells. This, in turn, initiates expression of the α cell-specific transcription factor ARX, resulting in the conversion of β cells to α cells, thus forming a zinc-ATF4-ARX regulatory axis. Like primary β cells, SC-β cells also undergo identity loss after transplantation into diabetic animals, which can be prevented by an ISR inhibitor, resulting in improved glycemic control. Furthermore, both genetic depletion and chemical inhibition of zinc accumulation effectively safeguard SC-β cells from identity loss and enhance their efficacy in diabetic animals. Our study thus reveals a pathogenic mechanism in which zinc accumulation induces β-cell identity loss through lineage-tracing approaches and proposes a protective strategy to counteract this process.","PeriodicalId":9926,"journal":{"name":"Cell Research","volume":"296 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":44.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146057207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Methionine metabolism generates the substrate S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which regulates epigenetic modifications crucial for various cellular processes, particularly tumorigenesis. However, whether methionine metabolism involves epigenetic mechanisms independent of SAM and what roles such mechanisms play in tumorigenesis remain unclear. We show here that the adenosylhomocysteinase (AHCY)–adenosine complex increases mRNA m6A levels in a non-global manner, promoting fatty acid synthesis and tumorigenesis. Adenosine increases mRNA m6A levels by binding to the methionine metabolism enzyme AHCY to form a complex, rather than depending on adenosine receptors. The AHCY–adenosine complex facilitates AHCY dimerization, with adenosine being crucial for dimer stability. AHCY dimers hinder the binding of fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) at the Q86 site to RNA containing the VWDRACH motif, increasing m6A levels and upregulating lipogenesis genes, especially ACACA and SCD1, thus leading to reprogramming of lipid metabolism. Conversely, AHCY mutants that have lost dimerization or FTO-binding ability but retain hydrolase activity suppress lipogenesis and tumor growth without significantly affecting methionine catabolism mediated by AHCY. Loss of AHCY in mice and disruption of AHCY dimerization in tumor cells and patient-derived xenograft models restricted tumor growth. Our findings demonstrate a key SAM-independent link between methionine metabolism and mRNA m6A modification that affects demethylase substrate specificity. This novel link between the methionine cycle and lipid metabolism suggests new strategies for anticancer therapy.
{"title":"The AHCY–adenosine complex rewires mRNA methylation to enhance fatty acid biosynthesis and tumorigenesis","authors":"Kun Liao, Fen Cao, Chen Wei, Zheng-Yu Qian, Hong-Rong Hu, Wen-Feng Pan, Zi-Qing Feng, Sen-mao Lian, Zi-Xuan Xiao, Hui Sheng, Hai-Yu Mo, Yi-Xuan Zhao, Qi-Nian Wu, Zhao-Lei Zeng, Bo Li, Rui-Hua Xu, Huai-Qiang Ju","doi":"10.1038/s41422-025-01213-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41422-025-01213-5","url":null,"abstract":"Methionine metabolism generates the substrate S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), which regulates epigenetic modifications crucial for various cellular processes, particularly tumorigenesis. However, whether methionine metabolism involves epigenetic mechanisms independent of SAM and what roles such mechanisms play in tumorigenesis remain unclear. We show here that the adenosylhomocysteinase (AHCY)–adenosine complex increases mRNA m6A levels in a non-global manner, promoting fatty acid synthesis and tumorigenesis. Adenosine increases mRNA m6A levels by binding to the methionine metabolism enzyme AHCY to form a complex, rather than depending on adenosine receptors. The AHCY–adenosine complex facilitates AHCY dimerization, with adenosine being crucial for dimer stability. AHCY dimers hinder the binding of fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) at the Q86 site to RNA containing the VWDRACH motif, increasing m6A levels and upregulating lipogenesis genes, especially ACACA and SCD1, thus leading to reprogramming of lipid metabolism. Conversely, AHCY mutants that have lost dimerization or FTO-binding ability but retain hydrolase activity suppress lipogenesis and tumor growth without significantly affecting methionine catabolism mediated by AHCY. Loss of AHCY in mice and disruption of AHCY dimerization in tumor cells and patient-derived xenograft models restricted tumor growth. Our findings demonstrate a key SAM-independent link between methionine metabolism and mRNA m6A modification that affects demethylase substrate specificity. This novel link between the methionine cycle and lipid metabolism suggests new strategies for anticancer therapy.","PeriodicalId":9926,"journal":{"name":"Cell Research","volume":"36 2","pages":"152-172"},"PeriodicalIF":25.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41422-025-01213-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145993482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1038/s41422-025-01212-6
Andrew Allan Almonte, Simon Thomas, Valerio Iebba, Guido Kroemer, Lisa Derosa, Laurence Zitvogel
The gut microbiome is recognized as a determinant of response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies in cancer. However, the clinical translation of microbiome science has been hampered by inconsistent definitions of dysbiosis, inadequate biomarker frameworks, and limited mechanistic understanding. In this review, we synthesize the current state of knowledge on how gut microbial composition and function influence ICI efficacy, highlighting both correlative and causal evidence. We discuss computational approaches based on α-diversity or taxonomic abundance and argue for more functionally and clinically informative models, such as the topological score (TOPOSCORE) and other dysbiosis indices derived from machine learning. Using retrospective analyses of metagenomic datasets from thousands of patients and healthy controls, we examine microbial patterns that distinguish responders from non-responders. We also explore how dysbiosis perturbs immunoregulatory pathways, including bile acid metabolism, gut permeability, and mucosal immunomodulation. Finally, we assess emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at correcting microbiome dysfunction — including dietary modification, bacterial consortia, and fecal microbiota transplantation — and describe how they are being deployed in multiple clinical trials. We conclude with a brief discussion of the ONCOBIOME initiative, which works with international partners to incorporate microbiome science into oncology workflows. By refining our understanding of gut–immune interactions and translating it into action, microbiome-informed oncology may unlock new therapeutic potential for patients previously resistant to immunotherapy.
{"title":"Gut dysbiosis in oncology: a risk factor for immunoresistance","authors":"Andrew Allan Almonte, Simon Thomas, Valerio Iebba, Guido Kroemer, Lisa Derosa, Laurence Zitvogel","doi":"10.1038/s41422-025-01212-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41422-025-01212-6","url":null,"abstract":"The gut microbiome is recognized as a determinant of response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies in cancer. However, the clinical translation of microbiome science has been hampered by inconsistent definitions of dysbiosis, inadequate biomarker frameworks, and limited mechanistic understanding. In this review, we synthesize the current state of knowledge on how gut microbial composition and function influence ICI efficacy, highlighting both correlative and causal evidence. We discuss computational approaches based on α-diversity or taxonomic abundance and argue for more functionally and clinically informative models, such as the topological score (TOPOSCORE) and other dysbiosis indices derived from machine learning. Using retrospective analyses of metagenomic datasets from thousands of patients and healthy controls, we examine microbial patterns that distinguish responders from non-responders. We also explore how dysbiosis perturbs immunoregulatory pathways, including bile acid metabolism, gut permeability, and mucosal immunomodulation. Finally, we assess emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at correcting microbiome dysfunction — including dietary modification, bacterial consortia, and fecal microbiota transplantation — and describe how they are being deployed in multiple clinical trials. We conclude with a brief discussion of the ONCOBIOME initiative, which works with international partners to incorporate microbiome science into oncology workflows. By refining our understanding of gut–immune interactions and translating it into action, microbiome-informed oncology may unlock new therapeutic potential for patients previously resistant to immunotherapy.","PeriodicalId":9926,"journal":{"name":"Cell Research","volume":"36 2","pages":"103-120"},"PeriodicalIF":25.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41422-025-01212-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145968492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1038/s41422-025-01207-3
Yaxin Niu, Shengmin Hu, Yanfeng Zhang, Jinbao Yang, Jiarui Zhang, Ruiping He, Li Chen, Lin Xu, Hongfang Zhao, Bing Gan, Ruobing Ren, Ruth J. F. Loos, Haobin Ye, Xingrong Du, Tongjin Zhao, Peng Li, Antonio Vidal-Puig, Linzhang Huang
Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is central to global carbohydrate metabolism, yet metabolites that enhance glucose uptake independently of insulin remain undefined. Here, we identify L-lactate as an insulin-independent regulator of glucose uptake that mitigates hyperglycemia. Loss of LDHA in muscle reduces lactate production, impairing glucose homeostasis in mice. By contrast, lactate administration or genetic upregulation of lactate production improves glucose control. Knockout of the lactate receptor GPR81 in skeletal muscle worsens glucose tolerance, whereas its ectopic expression or pharmacological activation enhances carbohydrate metabolism. Mechanistically, GPR81 recruits FARP1 to activate RAC1, promoting GLUT4 translocation independently of insulin signaling. Notably, the expression of LDHA, GPR81, and FARP1 is upregulated after exercise, and GPR81 variants are highly correlated with fasting insulin levels in humans, underscoring the synergy of the GPR81-FARP1-GLUT4 axis with insulin in glucose regulation. Our findings suggest that targeting GPR81 represents a potential insulin-independent strategy for the treatment of hyperglycemia.
{"title":"Lactate-activated GPR81/FARP1 signaling drives insulin-independent glucose uptake and metabolic control","authors":"Yaxin Niu, Shengmin Hu, Yanfeng Zhang, Jinbao Yang, Jiarui Zhang, Ruiping He, Li Chen, Lin Xu, Hongfang Zhao, Bing Gan, Ruobing Ren, Ruth J. F. Loos, Haobin Ye, Xingrong Du, Tongjin Zhao, Peng Li, Antonio Vidal-Puig, Linzhang Huang","doi":"10.1038/s41422-025-01207-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41422-025-01207-3","url":null,"abstract":"Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is central to global carbohydrate metabolism, yet metabolites that enhance glucose uptake independently of insulin remain undefined. Here, we identify L-lactate as an insulin-independent regulator of glucose uptake that mitigates hyperglycemia. Loss of LDHA in muscle reduces lactate production, impairing glucose homeostasis in mice. By contrast, lactate administration or genetic upregulation of lactate production improves glucose control. Knockout of the lactate receptor GPR81 in skeletal muscle worsens glucose tolerance, whereas its ectopic expression or pharmacological activation enhances carbohydrate metabolism. Mechanistically, GPR81 recruits FARP1 to activate RAC1, promoting GLUT4 translocation independently of insulin signaling. Notably, the expression of LDHA, GPR81, and FARP1 is upregulated after exercise, and GPR81 variants are highly correlated with fasting insulin levels in humans, underscoring the synergy of the GPR81-FARP1-GLUT4 axis with insulin in glucose regulation. Our findings suggest that targeting GPR81 represents a potential insulin-independent strategy for the treatment of hyperglycemia.","PeriodicalId":9926,"journal":{"name":"Cell Research","volume":"36 2","pages":"137-151"},"PeriodicalIF":25.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145956283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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