Liang Tu-Liang, Pan Hu-Dan, Yan Pei-Yu, Mi Jia-Ning, Liu Xiao-Cui, Bao Wei-Qian, Lian Li-Rong, Zhang Cui-Fen, Chen Ying, Wang Jing-Rong, Xie Ying, Zhou Hua, Yao Xiao-Jun, Graham Pawlec, Leung Elaine Lai-Han, Liu Liang, Li Run-Ze
State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Chinese Medicine Guangdong Laboratory, Guangdong Hengqin, China.
Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau (S.A.R.), China.
J Adv Res. 2025 Jul;73:427-442. doi: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.09.005. Epub 2024 Sep 5.
Taurine is a naturally occurring sulfonic acid involved in various physiological and pathological processes, such as the regulation of calcium signaling, immune function, inflammatory response, and cellular aging. It has the potential to predict tumor malignant transformation and formation. Our previous work discovered the elevated taurine in lung cancer patients. However, the precise impact and mechanism of elevated serum taurine levels on lung cancer progression and the suitability of taurine or taurine-containing drinks for lung cancer patients remain unclear.
Our study aimed to systematically investigate the role of taurine in lung cancer, with the ultimate goal of contributing novel strategies for lung cancer treatment.
Lung cancer C57 and nude mice models, RNA sequencing, and stable transfection were applied to explored the effects and mechanisms of taurine on lung cancer. Tissues of 129 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients derived from 2014 to 2017 for immunohistochemistry were collected in Taihe Hospital.
Low doses of taurine, as well as taurine-infused beverages at equivalent doses, significantly enhanced lung tumor growth. Equally intriguing is that the promoting effect of taurine on lung cancer progression wanes as the dosage increases. The Nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 1 (Nfe2l1 or Nrf1)-reactive oxygen species (ROS)-PD-1 axis may be a potential mechanism for dual role of taurine in lung cancer progression. However, taurine's impacts on lung cancer progression and the anti-tumor function of Nfe2l1 were mainly determined by the immune competence. Taurine inhitited lung tumor growth probably by inhibiting NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses in nude mice rather than by affecting Nfe2l1 function. As patients age increased, Nfe2l1 gene and protein gradually returned to the levels observed in healthy individuals, but lost its anti-lung cancer effects.
Taurine emerges as a potential biomarker for lung cancer progression, predicting poor prognosis and unsuitability for specific patients. Lung cancer patients, especially young patients, should be conscious of potential effects of taurine-containing drinks. Conversely, taurine or its drinks may be more suitable for older or immune-deficient patients.
牛磺酸是一种天然存在的磺酸，参与多种生理和病理过程，如钙信号调节、免疫功能、炎症反应和细胞衰老。它具有预测肿瘤恶性转化和形成的潜力。我们之前的研究发现肺癌患者体内牛磺酸水平升高。然而，血清牛磺酸水平升高对肺癌进展的确切影响和机制，以及牛磺酸或含牛磺酸饮料对肺癌患者的适用性仍不清楚。
我们的研究旨在系统地研究牛磺酸在肺癌中的作用，最终目标是为肺癌治疗贡献新的策略。
应用肺癌C57和裸鼠模型、RNA测序和稳定转染来探究牛磺酸对肺癌的影响及其机制。收集了太和医院2014年至2017年129例非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）患者的组织进行免疫组化分析。
低剂量牛磺酸以及等量的含牛磺酸饮料显著促进肺肿瘤生长。同样有趣的是，随着剂量增加，牛磺酸对肺癌进展的促进作用减弱。核因子红细胞2样1（Nfe2l1或Nrf1）-活性氧（ROS）-PD-1轴可能是牛磺酸在肺癌进展中发挥双重作用的潜在机制。然而，牛磺酸对肺癌进展的影响以及Nfe2l1的抗肿瘤功能主要由免疫能力决定。牛磺酸可能通过抑制裸鼠中NF-κB介导的炎症反应而非影响Nfe2l1功能来抑制肺肿瘤生长。随着患者年龄增长，Nfe2l1基因和蛋白逐渐恢复到健康个体的水平，但失去了其抗肺癌作用。
牛磺酸成为肺癌进展的潜在生物标志物，预示着预后不良且不适用于特定患者。肺癌患者，尤其是年轻患者，应意识到含牛磺酸饮料的潜在影响。相反，牛磺酸或其饮料可能更适合老年或免疫缺陷患者。
