Ketogenic Diet Alleviates Colorectal Cancer by Attenuating Macrophage M2 Polarisation Triggered by Oncometabolite MMA Derived From the Gut Microbiota

Cell Proliferation 2026 Open access

Read full text
Authors: Yang Lu, Bo Shi, Jinmiao Chen, Huihui Yao, Xu Mi, Minke Shao, Yiyuan Zhao, Lijun Meng, Qingliang Tai, J Chen, Xinyu Shi, Diyuan Zhou
+2 more Yizhou Yao, Songbing He
DOI: 10.1111/cpr.70247
Cited by: 1
References: 19

Abstract

Proposed mechanism of the ketogenic diet-microbiota-MMA-immune axis in CRC. (Part 1) A ketogenic diet remodels gut microbiota homeostasis by depleting MMA-producing bacteria, thereby reducing the accumulation of the oncometabolite (MMA). (Part 2) At the molecular level, MMA acts as a ligand that binds to Rap1, activating the downstream MAPK/ERK signalling cascade. This signalling event drives the transcriptional reprogramming of TAMs towards the pro-tumorigenic M2 phenotype. (Part 3) Clinically, elevated serum MMA in CRC patients correlates with increased M2 macrophage infiltration in the tumour microenvironment and poor prognosis.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Diet and metabolism studies Gut microbiota and health Immune cells in cancer

Publication details

Journal / source
Cell Proliferation
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
59
Issue
9
Pages
e70247–e70247
Publication date
17 June 2026
Language
EN