Caspase-1 cleaves PPARγ for potentiating the pro-tumor action of TAMs

Zhiyuan Niu, Qian Shi, Wenlong Zhang, Yuxin Shu, Nanfei Yang, Bing Chen, Qingsong Wang, Xuyang Zhao, Jiajia Chen, Nan Cheng, Xiujing Feng, Zichun Hua, Jianguo Ji, Pingping Shen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

141 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages are increasingly viewed as a target of great relevance in the tumor microenvironment, because of their important role in cancer progression and metastasis. However, the endogenous regulatory mechanisms underlying tumor-associated macrophage differentiation remain largely unknown. Here, we report that caspase-1 promotes tumor-associated macrophage differentiation by cleaving peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) at Asp64, thus generating a 41 kDa fragment. This truncated PPARγ translocates to mitochondria, where it directly interacts with medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD). This binding event attenuates MCAD activity and inhibits fatty acid oxidation, thereby leading to the accumulation of lipid droplets and promoting tumor-associated macrophage differentiation. Furthermore, the administration of caspase-1 inhibitors or the infusion of bone marrow-derived macrophages genetically engineered to overexpress murine MCAD markedly suppresses tumor growth. Therefore, targeting the caspase-1/PPARγ/MCAD pathway might be a promising therapeutic approach to prevent tumor progression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number766
JournalNature communications
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Caspase-1 cleaves PPARγ for potentiating the pro-tumor action of TAMs'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this