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Adipocytes Provide Fatty Acids to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells.
Jonathan Tucci1, Ting Chen2, Katherine Margulis3,4
1Diabetes and Obesity Program, Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Frontiers in Oncology
|May 10, 2021
Summary
Adipocytes provide lipids to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells, fueling their growth and increasing chemotherapy resistance. Targeting this lipid transfer could improve ALL treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cancer Biology
- Metabolic Regulation
- Leukemia Research
Background:
- Adipocytes actively participate in the cancer microenvironment.
- Adipocyte-leukemia cell interactions contribute to chemotherapy resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate adipocyte lipid provision to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells.
- Determine if lipid transfer mediates chemotherapy resistance.
Main Methods:
- Cultured adipocytes and ALL cells, measured free fatty acid (FFA) release.
- Utilized lipidomics and fluorescent probes to track lipid transfer.
- Assessed ALL cell metabolism and response to lipid inhibitors.
Main Results:
- Adipocytes release FFA, which ALL cells uptake and utilize.
- Adipocyte-derived lipids alter ALL metabolism and protect against chemotherapy.
- Oleic acid specifically confers chemotherapy resistance to ALL cells.
Conclusions:
- A novel interaction involves FFA transfer from adipocytes to ALL cells for fuel.
- This lipid transfer contributes to ALL chemotherapy resistance.
- Targeting lipid metabolism pathways may enhance ALL treatment.
