Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42844248›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Glucose-induced histone lactylation confers metformin resistance in colorectal cancer stem cells.

Xiang-Rui Li, Li Deng, Tian-Ge Zhang, Xin-De Chen, Yun-Han Hu, He-Yang Zhang, Shi-Qi Lin, Zhao-Ting Bu, Hong Zhao, Xiao-Yue Liu and 9 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

19 authors.

Xiang-Rui Li *Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China.
Li Deng *Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China. dengli070@foxmail.com.
Tian-Ge ZhangResearch laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China.
Xin-De ChenResearch laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China.
Yun-Han HuResearch laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China.
He-Yang ZhangDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China.
Shi-Qi LinDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China.
Zhao-Ting BuDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China.
Hong ZhaoDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China.
Xiao-Yue LiuDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China.
Yue ChenDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China.
Zhi-Jian ZhangResearch laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China.
Xiang TaoResearch laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China.
Min TangResearch laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China.
Tao HuangResearch laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China.
Yu-Shu HuangResearch laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China.
Yang ZhangClinical Medical Experimental Training Center, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China.
Zhi-Hao WuResearch laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241001, China. zwu2ster@wnmc.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0001-8368-5129
Han-Ping ShiDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China. shihp@ccmu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0003-4514-8693

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) can adapt their metabolism, which limits the effectiveness of therapies targeting metabolic pathways. Here we show that high glucose conditions promote metformin resistance in CD133⁺ colorectal CSCs by driving a switch from glucose dependence to lipid use. Mechanistically, metformin increases LDHA-dependent lactate production in these cells under high glucose conditions. Lactate accumulation enhances histone H3 lysine 18 lactylation (H3K18la), which activates c-JUN and induces CD36 expression. CD36 promotes free fatty acid (FFA) uptake and lipid droplet (LD) formation, providing fuel for fatty acid β-oxidation. This process generates ATP and NADPH, reduces energy stress and reactive oxygen species, and thereby supports CSC survival during metformin treatment. In vitro and in vivo, inhibition of either LDHA or CD36 restores metformin sensitivity in CD133⁺ colorectal CSCs. These findings identify a lactate-driven epigenetic and metabolic pathway underlying metformin resistance and suggest LDHA and CD36 as potential therapeutic targets.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsDrug Resistance, NeoplasmGlucoseHistonesMetforminNeoplastic Stem CellsAC133 AntigenAnimalsCD36 AntigensCell Line, TumorHumansLactate Dehydrogenase 5Lactic AcidL-Lactate DehydrogenaseMetabolic ReprogrammingMiceAC133 AntigenCD36 AntigensGlucoseHistonesLactate Dehydrogenase 5Lactic AcidL-Lactate DehydrogenaseMetforminPROM1 protein, humanReactive Oxygen Species

Identifiers

PMID42844248
PMCPMC13646297

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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 Socratic graph.