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Results for “Efferocytosis”

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PubMed2026

Efferocytosis regulatory factors in atherosclerosis: A preclinical systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Impaired efferocytosis is a key driver of plaque instability during atherosclerosis progression. Efficient clearance of apoptotic cells through efferocytosis relies on the coordinated action of multiple regulatory factors. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, OVID MEDLINE, and Scopus were searched for studies published up to February 7, 2026. Eligible preclinical studies were systematically reviewed to identify endogenous factors that regulate efferocytosis in atherosclerosis. Clinical evidence was also incorporated to enable a preliminary translational assessment of these regulatory factors. RESULTS: Thirty-five endogenous regulatory factors were identified from 36 included studies, and their functional roles across distinct stages of efferocytosis were characterized. Notably, metabolic regulators such as PKM2, PFKFB3, GLS1, and Drp1 were involved in distinct efferocytosis stages. This suggests that metabolic reprogramming may provide the metabolic support require for efficient efferocytosis and inflammation resolution. Ten factors were supported by preliminary clinical evidence consistent with preclinical data. PKM2 was the only candidate biomarker with prospective observational data. However, its independent predictive value still requires validation in multicenter prospective studies. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides a systematic synthesis of 35 endogenous efferocytosis regulators and elucidates their regulatory network in atherosclerosis based on a functional stage framework. Metabolic reprogramming is identified as a central hub linking efferocytosis efficiency to inflammation resolution. This review offers a new theoretical basis for efferocytosis-targeted intervention strategies.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Efferocytosis related KCTD12 is a clinico-immune target in lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Efferocytosis, the clearance of apoptotic cells by phagocytes, contributes to immune homeostasis but may also promote tumor immune tolerance. However, its transcriptional landscape and clinical relevance in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain incompletely understood. METHODS: We systematically analyzed efferocytosis-associated genes across TCGA and multiple GEO datasets to classify LUAD subtypes and construct a prognostic risk model. The prognostic and immunological relevance of this model was validated in four independent cohorts and further assessed through immune infiltration, genomic, and immunotherapy datasets. Functional and pharmacogenomic analyses were performed to identify potential therapeutic vulnerabilities, and the efferocytosis-associated signature gene KCTD12 was subsequently validated in vitro. RESULTS: Unsupervised clustering identified two efferocytosis-based LUAD subtypes with distinct prognostic and immune-metabolic characteristics. The derived risk model robustly predicted overall survival across validation cohorts. Among the model genes, KCTD12 emerged as an efferocytosis-associated candidate linked to an immune-active tumor microenvironment. Across the analyzed single-cell, spatial transcriptomic, and immunotherapy-treated cohorts, higher KCTD12 expression was associated with enhanced cytotoxic T-cell activity and more favorable treatment outcomes. Functional experiments confirmed that KCTD12 suppresses tumor cell proliferation, reduces colony formation, and enhances OT-1 CD8+ T-cell activation and cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identifies an efferocytosis-associated transcriptional program linked to immune heterogeneity and prognosis in LUAD. The efferocytosis-related risk signature provides a framework for prognostic and immune stratification, while KCTD12 represents a candidate biomarker associated with immune activation and clinical outcomes in immunotherapy-treated cohorts. Its treatment-specific predictive value requires prospective validation in appropriately controlled studies.

KCTD12↗

PubMed2024

Identification and analysis of key genes related to efferocytosis in colorectal cancer.

UNLABELLED: The impact of efferocytosis-related genes (ERGs) on the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In this study, efferocytosis-associated biomarkers for the diagnosis of CRC were identified by integrating data from transcriptome sequencing and public databases. Finally, the expression of biomarkers was validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Our study may provide a reference for CRC diagnosis. BACKGROUND: It has been shown that some efferocytosis related genes (ERGs) are associated with the development of cancer. However, it is still uncertain how ERGs may influence the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: In our study, the CRC cohorts were gained from transcriptome sequencing and the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database (GSE71187). Efferocytosis related biomarkers with diagnostic utility for CRC were identified through combining differentially expressed analysis, machine learning algorithms, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Then, infiltration abundance of immune cells between CRC and control was evaluated. The regulatory networks (including mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA and miRNA/transcription factors (TF)-mRNA networks) were created. Finally, the expression of biomarkers was validated via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: There were 3 biomarkers (ELMO3, P2RY12, and PDK4) related diagnosis for CRC patients gained. ELMO3 was highly expressed in CRC group, while P2RY12 and PDK4 was lowly expressed. Besides, the infiltrating abundance of 3 immune cells between CRC and control groups was significantly differential, namely activated CD4 memory T cells, macrophages M0, and resting mast cells. We then constructed a mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA network containing 3 mRNAs, 33 miRNAs, and 22 lncRNAs, and a miRNA/TF-mRNA network including 3 mRNAs, 33 miRNAs, and 7 TFs. Additionally, RT-qPCR results revealed that the expression trends of all biomarkers were consistent with the transcriptome sequencing data and GSE71187. CONCLUSION: Taken together, this study provides three efferocytosis related biomarkers (ELMO3, P2RY12, and PDK4) for diagnosis of CRC, providing a scientific reference for further studies of CRC.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Construction and accuracy assessment of an efferocytosis-related prognostic model for ovarian cancer: A diagnostic accuracy study.

The study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of efferocytosis-related genes in ovarian cancer (OC) with regard to cancer development, progression, invasion, and metastasis. OC cohorts were assembled from bioinformatics repositories. Utilizing consensus clustering analysis, distinct clusters were delineated based on the intersection of OC-related genes and efferocytosis-related genes. A prognostic signature specific to efferocytosis in OC was developed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, validated against the gene expression omnibus database, and subjected to independent prognostic analysis. Subsequently, a nomogram model was formulated. Moreover, investigations encompassed the immune microenvironment, immunotherapy, mutation profiling, drug sensitivity assessments, drug prediction models, and molecular docking analyses. Finally, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays were employed to ascertain the mRNA expression levels of key genes. Five key genes, FCGBP, BTN3A3, WDR91, SLC25A45, and BTNL3, were identified as significantly associated with OC. Both datasets and qRT-PCR demonstrated elevated expression levels of FCGBP and WDR91 in OC. Notably, AFLATOXIN B1 exhibited strong binding affinity to SLC25A45, ciclopirox to BTN3A3, and irinotecan to WDR91. The risk score, age, and stage were identified as independent prognostic factors, with the nomogram displaying efficacy in predicting OC patient survival. Variations in the immune cell infiltration profiles, including naive B cells, and expression levels of 6 immune checkpoint genes, such as CTLA4, were notable. High tumor mutation burden scores were associated with improved survival outcomes. Additionally, significant differences in the IC50 values of 123 anticancer drugs were observed between the 2 risk groups. This findings of this study highlight the efficacy of the efferocytosis-associated risk model in predicting the survival outcomes of OC patients, thus providing a novel reference for prognostic prediction in OC patients.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Impaired Glycolysis Leads to Defective Efferocytosis and Impaired Plaque Resolution in Tet2 Clonal Hematopoiesis.

BACKGROUND: Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) arising from mutations in hematopoietic genes has been identified as an important risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Despite the established role of some CH mutations in promoting atherosclerosis progression, their role in clinically relevant LDL (low-density lipoprotein) lowering-induced plaque remodeling or regression has not been extensively studied. METHODS: To assess the effects of TET2 (tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2) CH on plaque resolution, we prepared control or chimeric Tet2+/- CH mice with conditional deletion of Tet2 in hematopoietic stem cells during LDL lowering-induced plaque remodeling. After establishing atherosclerosis by Western diet feeding for 12 weeks in Ldlr-/- mice, Tet2 was deleted by tamoxifen injection, and hypercholesterolemia was either normalized to simulate clinical lipid management, or mice were continued on the Western diet. RESULTS: Unlike control mice, Tet2+/- CH mice failed to significantly reduce necrotic core area or increase fibrous cap thickness and showed impaired macrophage efferocytosis during LDL lowering. Single-cell RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis of aortic cell populations revealed that Tet2 deficient monocyte/macrophage populations were defective in glycolysis, phagocytosis, and actin polymerization. Tet2-deficient bone marrow-derived macrophages and Tet2+/- induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human macrophages showed defective ability to sustain continuing rounds of efferocytosis. Bone marrow-derived macrophages displayed reduced apoptotic cell binding and internalization and impaired activity of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein and SCAR (suppressor of cyclic AMP receptor) homolog complex mediated actin polymerization. We linked these defects to reduced anaerobic glycolysis and lactate levels and rescued them by lactate supplementation or by treatment with the HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor 1α) activator molidustat. Molidustat treatment reversed the defects in necrotic core and fibrous cap formation during LDL lowering-induced plaque remodeling in Tet2+/- CH mice. Reduced plasma lactate levels were also shown in TET2 clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential carriers in the UK Biobank. CONCLUSIONS: Our data identify impaired efferocytosis and glycolysis-lactate-actin polymerization pathways in advanced atherosclerosis as potential therapeutic targets to induce proresolving restructuring of the plaque immune cells and to promote beneficial atherosclerosis remodeling in subjects with TET2 CH.

LDL lowering↗

PubMed2025

High expression of Rex-orf-I and HBZ mRNAs and bronchiectasis in lung of HTLV-1A/C infected macaques.

HTLV-1 type-A rarely causes lung disease in humans, whereas HTLV-1 type-C is more frequently associated with respiratory failure and premature death. We investigated the genetic basis of HTLV-1C morbidity by constructing a chimeric HTLV-1A/CoI-L encompassing the highly divergent type C orf-I. We demonstrate that systemic infectivity of HTLV-1A and HTLV-1A/CoI-L is equivalent in macaques, but viral expression in lungs is significantly higher in HTLV-1A/CoI-L infection. In addition, bronchoalveolar-lavage immune cell dynamics differs greatly with neutrophils and monocytes producing TNF-α in HTLV-1A/CoI-L, but producing IL-10 in HTLV-1A infection. Animals infected with HTLV-1A/CoI-L develops bronchiectasis at 10 months from infection, but at the same timepoint those infected with HTLV-1A do not. HTLV-1A/CoI-L expressed a 16 kDa fusion protein (p16C) via a doubly spliced, Rex-orf-IC, mRNA able to shield T-cells from efferocytosis, a monocyte function that mitigates inflammation via clearance of apoptotic cells. The Rex-orf-IC mRNA is expressed as more frequent in the lung of HTLV-1A/CoI-L than HTLV-1A infected animals. Since defective efferocytosis is associated with lung obstructive pathologies, the data raise the hypothesis that p16C may contribute to the lung morbidity observed in HTLV-1C infection.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Proteomics and Phosphoproteomics Characteristics of the Rhesus Macaque Lung Infected With Original SARS-CoV-2, Delta, and Omicron Variants.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains mutate rapidly, making it crucial to study their molecular mechanisms for swift vaccine and drug development. Here, we utilized host lung proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling to investigate the underlying pathology caused by the variants. Lung tissues infected with wild-type GD108, Delta, or Omicron BA.1 variants showed overexpression of proteins and phosphoproteins linked to the innate immune pathway, particularly in the Omicron group, with high activation of NOD-receptor and RIG-I like receptor signaling pathways. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis revealed six key proteins, including antiviral innate immune response receptor RIG-I (DDX58), and five interferon-related proteins (IFIT2, ISG15, MX1, STAT1, and EIF2AK2), highlighting the importance of the innate immune response in combating all three variants. Kinase prediction analysis suggested that six kinases (DAPK1, DAPK2, DAPK3, PRACK, TTK, and MAP2K2), potentially inhibited by Fostamatinib, were activated across all three variants, and might be potential drug targets, pending further verification. Omicron infection, compared to other mutants, significantly disrupted proteins related to pulmonary structural support, like integrin and collagens, and inhibited efferocytosis, reducing the host's ability to eliminate the pathogen. These findings suggest that innate immune activation and structural disruption may contribute to Omicron-related pathology, potentially being useful for research into the molecular mechanisms underlying lung injury from SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Integrative multi-omics analysis of metabolite-protein interaction networks across different stages of coronary heart disease.

To elucidate the molecular characteristics of synergistic interactions across the clinical stages of coronary heart disease (CHD)-specifically stable angina pectoris (SAP), unstable angina pectoris (UAP), and acute myocardial infarction (AMI)-through integrated metabolomic and proteomic analyses. Based on a cohort including SAP, UAP, AMI, and healthy controls, metabolomic and proteomic analyses were performed to identify differentially expressed molecules, followed by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Pathways co-enriched across both omics platforms were selected to construct metabolite-protein interaction networks. The number of pathways co-enriched in both metabolomic and proteomic analyses increased markedly with disease stage. Only two pathways (histidine metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism) were identified in the SAP stage; this number increased to five in the UAP stage (including ferroptosis and efferocytosis) and expanded to 25 in the AMI stage, encompassing three major functional modules: immune inflammation, metabolic reprogramming, and cell signaling. The core network exhibited a stepwise increase in connectivity, shifting from a sparse structure in the SAP stage to a highly interconnected architecture in the AMI stage, with L-glutamate and KNG1 identified as the central hubs in this cross-sectional network. In addition, CNDP1 exhibited a stage-dependent functional transition, shifting from downregulation in SAP to upregulation in AMI. In this cross-sectional analysis, metabolic dysregulation and immune activation exhibited stepwise increases in interconnectivity across the SAP, UAP, and AMI groups, with the most extensive crosstalk observed in the AMI stage-a network configuration consistent with a tightly coupled "molecular storm". These findings provide novel insights into stage-associated molecular signatures of CHD and identify candidate hub molecules for stage-oriented therapeutic investigation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Inflammatory cell death and monocyte dysfunction in VEXAS syndrome.

VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome is a severe adult-onset autoinflammatory disease caused by somatic mutations in the UBA1 gene, disrupting cytoplasmic ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1 function in hematopoietic progenitors. Its pathogenesis remains poorly understood, particularly the mechanisms by which UBA1 mutations disrupt myeloid cell function in the context of inflammatory stimuli. Here, we combine a genetically engineered THP-1 monocytic model with ex vivo analyses of blood and tissue samples from patients with VEXAS syndrome to investigate the consequences of the canonical UBA1M41V mutation. We show that UBA1-mutated monocytes exhibit tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-induced cell death, characterized by receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) phosphorylation, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like- and caspase-8-mediated cell death. Importantly, we extend these findings to patient-derived CD14+ sorted cells, confirming that these cells undergo aberrant apoptotic and necroptotic cell death. Mechanistically, activation of these cell death pathways appears to be promoted by defective NF-κB-dependent transcriptional responses and reduced cFLIP(L) expression following TNF-α stimulation. UBA1-mutated monocytes also display blunted cytokine responses to Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists despite preserved TLR expression, linked to an impaired NF-κB response. UBA1M41V-derived macrophages exhibit a proinflammatory transcriptional profile with increased chemokine secretion that promotes monocyte recruitment. In addition, these UBA1-mutated macrophages display impaired efferocytosis due to lysosomal dysfunction. Together, these findings reveal a pathogenic axis in VEXAS syndrome linking UBA1 loss of function and defective ubiquitination to RIPK1-mediated inflammatory cell death, impaired antimicrobial signaling, and defective resolution mechanisms. Our study provides novel mechanistic insights into the myeloid dysfunction underlying inflammation and cytopenia in VEXAS syndrome and supports the therapeutic targeting of inflammatory cell death pathways.

Humans↗