Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41981195›Full record

ArticleNature immunology2026

Tumor-derived branched-chain α-keto acids activate Notch signaling in tumor-associated macrophages to limit immunity.

Qi-Xiang Ma, Ru Zhao, Jiang-Xue Han, Wen-Ying Zhu, Mi-Die Xu, Xiao-Yan Zhang, Guo-Quan Yan, Wen-Yu Wen, Guang-Chun Han, Min Luo and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

13 authors.

Qi-Xiang Ma *Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and School of Basic Medical Sciences; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4760-5176
Ru Zhao *Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and School of Basic Medical Sciences; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Jiang-Xue HanFudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and School of Basic Medical Sciences; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Wen-Ying ZhuFudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and School of Basic Medical Sciences; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Mi-Die XuDepartment of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
Xiao-Yan ZhangDepartment of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
Guo-Quan YanFudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and School of Basic Medical Sciences; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Wen-Yu WenDepartment of Neurosurgery; Huashan Hospital; the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science; Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Guang-Chun HanFudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and School of Basic Medical Sciences; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Min LuoFudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and School of Basic Medical Sciences; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5732-4848
Miao YinFudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and School of Basic Medical Sciences; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. miaoyin@fudan.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7026-7067
Jin-Tao LiFudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and School of Basic Medical Sciences; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. lijt15@fudan.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-8351-6859
Qun-Ying LeiFudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences and School of Basic Medical Sciences; Cancer Institutes; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics; National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. qlei@fudan.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8547-8518

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82121004National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82330092National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82372827
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Tumor cells are highly dependent on branched-chain amino acids, which can activate mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1, but the downstream catabolite branched-chain α-keto acids (BCKAs) are not well studied in this context. Here, using clinical samples and genetically engineered mouse tumor models, we showed that tumor-derived BCKAs are secreted actively into the tumor microenvironment (TME) where they reprogram tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to promote tumor progression. Through genome-wide CRISPR screening, we identified Notch2 as a direct molecular target of BCKAs. BCKAs activate Notch signaling by binding to and stabilizing cleaved Notch2, functionally reprogramming TAMs and fostering an immunosuppressive TME. Mutation of the BCKA-binding site in Notch2 abolishes this effect in vivo. Together, these findings identify BCKAs as signaling metabolites that mediate tumor immunosuppression through direct sensing by Notch2.

Indexed as

Keto AcidsNeoplasmsReceptor, Notch2Tumor-Associated MacrophagesAnimalsCell Line, TumorHumansMiceSignal TransductionTumor MicroenvironmentKeto AcidsNOTCH2 protein, humanNotch2 protein, mouseReceptor, Notch2

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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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.