麻省理工学院研究发现,高脂肪饮食通过将成熟肝细胞转化为干类细胞,可能会引发肝癌。 High-fat diets may trigger liver cancer by turning mature liver cells into stem-like cells, MIT study finds.

一项新的麻省理工学院研究发现,高脂肪饮食增加了肝癌风险,重新规划成熟肝细胞,使其恢复到不成熟的、像干细胞一样的状态,帮助他们在新陈代谢压力下存活下来,但提高了癌症的易感性。 A new MIT study finds that high-fat diets increase liver cancer risk by reprogramming mature liver cells to revert to an immature, stem-cell-like state, helping them survive metabolic stress but raising cancer susceptibility. 研究人员利用小鼠的单细胞RNA测序,发现这些细胞抑制正常肝功能基因,同时激活生存和生长基因,模仿肝病的早期阶段。 Using single-cell RNA sequencing in mice, researchers observed that these cells suppress normal liver function genes while activating survival and growth genes, mimicking early stages of liver disease. 促成这一变化的关键转录因素,包括那些与甲状腺激素信号信号相关的因素,是预防性治疗的潜在目标。 Key transcription factors driving this change, including those linked to thyroid hormone signaling, are potential targets for preventive therapies. 一种相关药物已经获准治疗严重脂肪性肝病,另一种药物正在临床试验中。 One related drug is already approved for severe fatty liver disease, and another is in clinical trials. 调查结果表明,慢性饮食压力可以改变肝细胞特征,促进癌症发育。 The findings show how chronic dietary stress can alter liver cell identity and promote cancer development.