Research progress on the relationship between adipocytes and tumor metastasis
1, 2Fang Yan，1WangShuyi，1XiongBin
1 Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery & Department of Gastric and Colorectal Surgical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan Uni?
versity, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center,
Guangzhou 510620, Guangdong, China
Abstract：Obesity is one of the major chronic diseases threatening people′s health, which is mainly caused by the
expansion of adipose tissue. In the human body, adipose tissue is a dynamic endocrine organ responsible for energy homeostasis.
Obesity is associated with metabolic disorders, altered steroid secretion, chronic subclinical inflammation, and an increased risk
of many cancers. Tumor cells are closely related to adipocytes in microenvironment, on the one hand, adipocyte⁃derived
cytokines, such as IL⁃6, CCL2, TNF-α, leptin and adiponectin, can promote tumor invasion and metastasis through activation of
different signaling pathways. Free fatty acids and lipid droplets derived from adipocytes can be transferred to tumor cells through
FABP4, CD36 and other transporters, which can increase the rate of tumor β oxidation, produce a lot of ATP, and promote the
division and proliferation of tumor cells. On the other hand, adipocytes can induce metabolic reprogramming of Treg cells,
CD8+
cytotoxic T cells and macrophages, promote the proliferation of Treg cells and M2⁃type macrophages, inhibit the
tumor⁃killing activity of CD8+
cytotoxic T cells, and lead to tumor immune escape. The reprogramming of neutrophils disrupts the
adhesion of vascular endothelial cells and leads to increased vascular wall permeability, which is conducive to the passage of
tumor cells through the vascular wall and metastasis to distant places. This review mainly explores the relationship between
adipocytes and tumor metastasis, aiming to provide new targets for tumor therapy.
1,2 方 燕，1王舒艺，1熊 斌. 脂肪细胞与肿瘤转移的关系研究进展[J]. 肿瘤代谢与营养电子杂志, 2021, 8(5): 481-486.
1, 2Fang Yan，1WangShuyi，1XiongBin. Research progress on the relationship between adipocytes and tumor metastasis. Electron J Metab Nutr Cancer, 2021, 8(5): 481-486.
