ATPase-dependent release of lipid droplets by adipocytes enhances the malignant progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The essential roles of lipid droplets (LDs) within the tumor microenvironment encompass nutritional provision, metabolic regulation, and signal transmission. Nevertheless, the origin of LDs in the hypoxic microenvironment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unresolved. Research indicates that exosomes could potentially facilitate interactions within the tumor ecosystem, thereby influencing phenotypic intertumoral heterogeneity. Our results showed that adipocytes were more likely to release LDs when exposed to hypoxic than normoxic CNE2 cell-derived exosomes. Thus, exosomes from hypoxic NPC cells were the primary driving force of LD release in adipocytes. To assess the key proteins maintaining LD release in the NPC tumor microenvironment, we performed next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of adipocytes pretreated with exosomes derived from normoxic and hypoxic CNE2 cells. Our analysis revealed that 31 ATPases were significantly upregulated in the group treated with exosomes derived from hypoxic CNE2 cells, compared to the normoxic group.