Lipid metabolism of hepatocyte-like cells supports intestinal tumor growth by promoting tracheogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Tumors require metabolic adaptations to support their rapid growth, but how they influence lipid metabolism in distant tissues remains poorly understood. Here, we uncover a novel mechanism by which gut tumors in adult flies reprogram lipid metabolism in distal hepatocyte-like cells, known as oenocytes, to promote tracheal development and tumor growth. We show that tumors secrete a PDGF/VEGF-like factor, Pvf1, that activates the TORC1-Hnf4 signaling pathway in oenocytes. This activation enhances the production of specific lipids, including very long-chain fatty acids and wax esters, that are required for tracheal growth surrounding the gut tumor. Importantly, reducing expression in oenocytes of either the transcription factor Hnf4, or the elongase mElo that generates very long chain

SUBMITTER: Huang K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11996582 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature