FAD synthase confers ferroptosis resistance and restrains CD8+ T cell recruitment in hepatocellular carcinoma

Jiashuo Chao, Yuan Liang, Hao Wang, Ziyu Xun, Shanshan Wang, Zhengfeng Xuan, Mingming Wang, Qiyuan Huang, Rui Zhang, Mu Liu, Lei Zhang, Bohang Shou, Yuhan Zhang, Feng Cheng (), Haitao Zhao () and Ling Lu ()
Additional contact information
Jiashuo Chao: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC)
Yuan Liang: Southeast University
Hao Wang: The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University
Ziyu Xun: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC)
Shanshan Wang: Xiamen University
Zhengfeng Xuan: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC)
Mingming Wang: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC)
Qiyuan Huang: The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University
Rui Zhang: The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University
Mu Liu: The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University
Lei Zhang: The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University
Bohang Shou: University of California Los Angeles
Yuhan Zhang: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC)
Feng Cheng: The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University
Haitao Zhao: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC)
Ling Lu: The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Abstract Vitamin B2 (VB2) metabolism regulates numerous cellular processes, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains unclear. Here we show that HCC tumors are characterized by upregulation of a VB2 metabolism signature, and VB2 metabolism promotes HCC progression. Among VB2 metabolic enzymes, flavin adenine dinucleotide synthase (FADS) is the only one that is widely overexpressed in human HCC. Elevated FADS expression correlates with resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy and poor prognosis. In vivo, FADS facilitates HCC cell growth and suppresses T cell-mediated antitumor immunity. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals that FADS-induced changes occur both in the tumor cells and the intra-tumoral CD8+ T cells. Knocking down FADS induces HCC cell death and increases CD8⁺ T cell infiltration. Mechanistically, FADS confers ferroptosis resistance on HCC cells via enzymatic function to produce FAD and non-enzymatic function to stabilize PCBP2. Moreover, FADS impairs CD8+ T cell recruitment by disrupting the cGAS-STING pathway. Hesperidin, a clinically approved FADS inhibitor, shows antitumor efficacy in a mouse model. Our study thus highlights the importance of VB2 metabolism in HCC and provides the proof of principle for targeting FADS as a therapeutic strategy for HCC.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64572-y

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