Bai DingYuan, Zhou YuXuan, Jing LingJie, Guo Cheng, Yang QuanJun
Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China.
College of Food Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
Immune Netw. 2025 Aug 12;25(4):e30. doi: 10.4110/in.2025.25.e30. eCollection 2025 Aug.
Arginine, a conditionally essential amino acid, orchestrates critical metabolic networks in cancer biology and immunotherapy. Abnormalities in arginine metabolism are associated with cancer initiation, progression and immune escape. Polyamines and nitric oxide are the key metabolites with multiple regulatory effects on cancer cell growth and immune cells by driving metabolic reprogramming and promoting immune evasion in cancer cells. Targeting key enzymes and transporters in arginine pathways, along with arginine deprivation therapy, shows promise in preclinical and clinical studies. This review summarizes the regulatory mechanisms of arginine metabolism and evaluates its potential as a therapeutic target in cancer therapy. We specifically discuss the multifaceted roles of arginine and its metabolites in cancer progression, immune cell regulation, and immunotherapy, providing a theoretical foundation for its application in cancer prevention and treatment.
精氨酸是一种条件必需氨基酸，在癌症生物学和免疫治疗中协调关键的代谢网络。精氨酸代谢异常与癌症的发生、发展和免疫逃逸有关。多胺和一氧化氮是关键代谢产物，通过驱动代谢重编程和促进癌细胞免疫逃逸，对癌细胞生长和免疫细胞具有多种调节作用。靶向精氨酸途径中的关键酶和转运蛋白，以及精氨酸剥夺疗法，在临床前和临床研究中显示出前景。本综述总结了精氨酸代谢的调节机制，并评估了其作为癌症治疗靶点的潜力。我们特别讨论了精氨酸及其代谢产物在癌症进展、免疫细胞调节和免疫治疗中的多方面作用，为其在癌症预防和治疗中的应用提供理论基础。
