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. 2022 Sep 17;15:135. doi: 10.1186/s13045-022-01349-6

Table 2.

TGF-β-dependent metabolic reprogramming of lipid and amino acid in cancer

Signaling components TGF-β-dependent metabolic component change Metabolic reprogramming/cell biology influenced Cell Type Cancer type Experimental status Ref.
Lipid
Cholesterol synthesis
NSDHL-TGF-βR2 NSDHL promoted TGF-βR2 activation Promoted cholesterol biosynthesis. Facilitated breast cancer cell proliferation and metastasis Cancer cell BC In vitro human cell culture; Preclinical in vivo mouse model [117]
NSDHL-SREBP1-TGF-β1 NSDHL inhibited TGF-β1 production Promoted cholesterol biosynthesis; Inhibited EMT Cancer cell PDAC In vitro mouse cell culture; Preclinical in vivo mouse model [121]
TGF-β-ZEB1/CtBP complex-SREBF2-TGF-βRI ZEB1/CtBP complex Inhibited the activity of SREBF2 via bounding to its promoter Decreased cholesterol synthesis; Increased EMT and metastasis Cancer cell BC In vitro mouse cell culture; Preclinical in vivo mouse model [123]
CAV-1-AKT-TGF-β1 Downregulated CAV-1 in CAFs increased TGF-β1 through AKT activation Increased levels of intracellular cholesterol and high metastatic behavior in CAV-1-depleted CAFs CAF Prostate cancer In vitro human cell culture [176]
Fatty acid synthesis
TGF-β1-FASN-TGF-β1 “FASN-TGF-β1-FASN” positive regulatory loop Increased fatty acid synthesis; Increased EMT/metastasis Cancer cell NSCLC In vitro human cell culture [126]
TGF-β1-ACSL5 and PPARγ Increased ACSL5 and PPARγ Reduced mitochondrial respiration; Increased EMT Cancer cell HCC In vitro human cell culture [98]
TGF-β1-p-AMPK-FASN Activated p-AMPK and thus decreased FASN Decreased fatty acid synthesis; Increased EMT Cancer cell BC In vitro human cell culture [127]
Endocytosis and lipid droplet formation
Acidic TMME-TGF-β2 releasement-CD36 Acidosis increased TGF-β2 releasement and then CD36 Increased fatty acid uptake and formation of lipid droplet; Enhanced anoikis resistance and cancer cell invasiveness Cancer cell Uterus and colon cancer In vitro human cell culture [131]
Fatty acid oxidation
TGF-β1-p-AMPK-CPT1 and CD36 Activated p-AMPK and thus increased CPT1 and CD36 Enhanced fatty acid oxidation pathway; Increased EMT Cancer cell BC In vitro human cell culture [127]
TGF-β-TGF-βRI TGF-βRI was observed to be upregulated Increased β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids. Promoted TGF-β-induced EMT Cancer cell HCC In vitro human cell culture [270]
Amino acid
TGF-β-P4HA3 Induced the expression of P4HA3 Increased the levels of Asp, Glu, and Lys Cancer cell NSCLC In vitro human cell culture; Preclinical in vivo mouse model [137]
TGF-β-SLC7A5 and GLS1 upregulated Gln transporter SLC7A5 and GLS1 Enhanced Gln anaplerosis Cancer cell HCC In vitro human cell culture [98]

NSDHL NAD(P)H steroid dehydrogenase-like protein; SREBF2 sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 2; ZEB1 zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1; CtBP C-terminal-binding protein; CAV-1 caveolin-1; CAFs cancer associated fibroblasts; FASN fatty acid synthase; ACSL5 acyl CoA synthetase 5; PPARγ peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma; p-AMPK phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase; ERK extracellular signal-regulated kinase; LDs lipid droplets; CPT1 carnitine palmityl transferase 1; P4HA3 prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 3; SLC7A5 solute carrier family 7 member 5; BC breast cancer; PDAC pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; NSCLC non-small cell lung cancer; and HCC hepatocellular carcinoma