{"title":"Tumor-associated Schwann cell remodeling under metabolic stress via lactate sensing orchestrates pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma development","authors":"Yihao Liu, Jiayu Lin, Zhengwei Yu, Xueying Li, Xueqi Lv, Pengyi Liu, Xiuqiao Sun, Zhen Zhang, Xia Gao, Keyan Sun, Dan Li, Jingfeng Li, Yang Liu, Yu Jiang, Siyi Zou, Jianping Lin, Baofa Sun, Da Fu, Baiyong Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.cmet.2025.07.008","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we identify lactate-driven remodeling of tumor-associated Schwann cells (TASCs) as a key mediator of immunosuppression in diabetic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed a c1-Mettl16+Cd276+Nectin2+ TASC subpopulation enriched in diabetic tumors that impairs CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell function and promotes PD-1 resistance. Mechanistically, lactate enters TASCs via MCT1/MCT4, binds METTL16, and induces K269 lactylation, enhancing m6A-dependent CTCF stabilization and transcriptional activation of immunosuppressive ligands. Targeting METTL16 restores immune surveillance and sensitizes tumors to PD-1 blockade. Retrospective analyses confirmed therapeutic benefit in patients with diabetic PDAC receiving rosuvastatin. These findings uncover a lactate-METTL16-CTCF axis that links metabolic stress to epitranscriptomic reprogramming and immune evasion, offering a promising strategy to potentiate immunotherapy in metabolically dysregulated PDAC.","PeriodicalId":9840,"journal":{"name":"Cell metabolism","volume":"143 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":30.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Cell metabolism","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2025.07.008","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CELL BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we identify lactate-driven remodeling of tumor-associated Schwann cells (TASCs) as a key mediator of immunosuppression in diabetic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed a c1-Mettl16+Cd276+Nectin2+ TASC subpopulation enriched in diabetic tumors that impairs CD8+ T cell function and promotes PD-1 resistance. Mechanistically, lactate enters TASCs via MCT1/MCT4, binds METTL16, and induces K269 lactylation, enhancing m6A-dependent CTCF stabilization and transcriptional activation of immunosuppressive ligands. Targeting METTL16 restores immune surveillance and sensitizes tumors to PD-1 blockade. Retrospective analyses confirmed therapeutic benefit in patients with diabetic PDAC receiving rosuvastatin. These findings uncover a lactate-METTL16-CTCF axis that links metabolic stress to epitranscriptomic reprogramming and immune evasion, offering a promising strategy to potentiate immunotherapy in metabolically dysregulated PDAC.
期刊介绍:
Cell Metabolism is a top research journal established in 2005 that focuses on publishing original and impactful papers in the field of metabolic research.It covers a wide range of topics including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular biology, aging and stress responses, circadian biology, and many others.
Cell Metabolism aims to contribute to the advancement of metabolic research by providing a platform for the publication and dissemination of high-quality research and thought-provoking articles.