Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29463677›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of biological chemistry2018

An unexpected link between fatty acid synthase and cholesterol synthesis in proinflammatory macrophage activation.

Richard G Carroll, Zbigniew Zasłona, Silvia Galván-Peña, Emma L Koppe, Daniel C Sévin, Stefano Angiari, Martha Triantafilou, Kathy Triantafilou, Louise K Modis, Luke A O'Neill

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of biological chemistry, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 108 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
108citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
7.2field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

108 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 186 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  15. Maladaptive trained immunity in viral infections.The Journal of clinical investigation · 2025
    Review
  16. Review
  17. Lipids: Driving Forces in the Underlying Biology of Carcinogenesis.ACS pharmacology & translational science · 2025
    Review
  18. Metabolic hallmarks of trastuzumab resistance.Expert opinion on therapeutic targets · 2025
    Review
  19. Article
  20. Article

48 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.

Richard G CarrollFrom the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Zbigniew ZasłonaFrom the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Silvia Galván-PeñaFrom the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Emma L Koppethe Immunology Catalyst, GlaxoSmithKline, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom.
Daniel C SévinCellzome, GlaxoSmithKline, Meyerhofstrasse 1, Heidelberg 69117, Germany.
Stefano AngiariFrom the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Martha Triantafilouthe Immunology Catalyst, GlaxoSmithKline, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom.
Kathy Triantafilouthe Immunology Catalyst, GlaxoSmithKline, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom.
Louise K Modisthe Immunology Catalyst, GlaxoSmithKline, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom.
Luke A O'NeillFrom the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Science Institute, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland, laoneill@tcd.ie.
GlaxoSmithKline (United Kingdom) · GBTrinity College Dublin · IECardiff University · GBGlaxoSmithKline (Germany) · DE

Funding

Wellcome Trust 109443/Z/15/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Different immune activation states require distinct metabolic features and activities in immune cells. For instance, inhibition of fatty acid synthase (FASN), which catalyzes the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids, prevents the proinflammatory response in macrophages; however, the precise role of this enzyme in this response remains poorly defined. Consistent with previous studies, we found here that FASN is essential for lipopolysaccharide-induced, Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated macrophage activation. Interestingly, only agents that block FASN upstream of acetoacetyl-CoA synthesis, including the well-characterized FASN inhibitor C75, inhibited TLR4 signaling, while those acting downstream had no effect. We found that acetoacetyl-CoA could overcome C75's inhibitory effect, whereas other FASN metabolites, including palmitate, did not prevent C75-mediated inhibition. This suggested an unexpected role for acetoacetyl-CoA in inflammation that is independent of its role in palmitate synthesis. Our evidence further suggested that acetoacetyl-CoA arising from FASN activity promotes cholesterol production, indicating a surprising link between fatty acid synthesis and cholesterol synthesis. We further demonstrate that this process is required for TLR4 to enter lipid rafts and facilitate TLR4 signaling. In conclusion, we have uncovered an unexpected link between FASN and cholesterol synthesis that appears to be required for TLR signal transduction and proinflammatory macrophage activation.

Indexed as

Macrophage ActivationSignal TransductionAcyl Coenzyme AAnimalsCholesterolFatty Acid Synthase, Type IInflammationMacrophagesMicePalmitic AcidToll-Like Receptor 4acetoacetyl CoAAcyl Coenzyme ACholesterolFatty Acid Synthase, Type IPalmitic AcidTlr4 protein, mouseToll-Like Receptor 4cholesterol regulationcytokinefatty acid synthase (FAS)inflammationinnate immunitylipid raftmacrophageToll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)Toll-like receptor (TLR)

Identifiers

PMID29463677
PMCPMC5900750
OpenAlexW2788772427

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.