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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 28, 2026; 32(24): 117849
Published online Jun 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i24.117849
Published online Jun 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i24.117849
Differential metabolites facilitate metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease malignancy via immune evasion and M2-polarized macrophages
Jie Yang, Department of Biology, Life Science School of Nantong University, Nantong 226009, Jiangsu Province, China
Wen-Li Sai, Min Xu, Deng-Fu Yao, Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
Xiao-Xiao Xia, Qun Xie, Department of Infectious Diseases, Haian People’s Hospital, Haian 226600, Jiangsu Province, China
Hao Tang, Min Yao, Department of Immunology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-first authors: Jie Yang and Wen-Li Sai.
Co-corresponding authors: Min Yao and Deng-Fu Yao.
Author contributions: Yang J and Sai WL contributed equally as co-first authors; Yang J, Sai WL, and Tang H conceived the study and analyzed and interpreted the data; Yang J, Xia XX, and Xu M performed the experiments; Sai WL performed statistical analysis and bioinformatics; Tang H and Xie Q acquired the material and data; Yao M and Yao DF acquired funding, wrote the manuscript, and made equal contribution as co-corresponding authors. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 32470985 and No. 81673241; Nantong Science and Technology Project, No. MS2024051; Nantong Federation for the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, No. NTCRB2025016; and Nantong Health Commission of China, No. QN2025064.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, No. 2024-L178.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: All procedures of the experimental research were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Nantong University, No. P20230327-001.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Data sharing statement: All the data presented in this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Deng-Fu Yao, MD, PhD, Postdoc, Professor, Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, No. 20 West Temple Road, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China. yaodf@ahnmc.com
Received: December 18, 2025
Revised: January 16, 2026
Accepted: March 4, 2026
Published online: June 28, 2026
Processing time: 171 Days and 22.4 Hours
Revised: January 16, 2026
Accepted: March 4, 2026
Published online: June 28, 2026
Processing time: 171 Days and 22.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Dynamic alterations in metabolites and immune cell populations provide insight into metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease-related malignancy. These changes include loss of carnitine palmitoyltransferase II activity and significant alterations in phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins associated with steroid biosynthesis. Additionally, the fat-rich microenvironment is characterized by immune modulation, including reduced T-cell function, increased in pro