Journal: bioRxiv
Article Title: AADAT-Driven Metabolic Control of Malate and CoQ 10 Shapes Immune Evasion in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
doi: 10.64898/2026.01.28.702389
Figure Lengend Snippet: (a) Heatmap of significantly altered metabolites (P<0.05, FDR <0.25) from an unbiased metabolomics analysis of conditioned media (CM) from E0771-ova+ TNBC cells with doxycycline-induced KD of AADAT (AADAT-iKD2) or uninduced control (Control-iKD2, n=3 biological replicates, each with three technical replicates). Shades of red and green indicate metabolites that are significantly elevated or depleted, respectively (see color scale). Metabolites belonging to the tricarboxylic acid cycle are marked with a red asterisk. CoQ 10 precursors are marked with a blue double asterisk. (b) Representative photomicrographs of a region of interest in a patient’s TNBC tumor show similar spatial clustering patterns for the CD8+ functional T cell cluster and (c) Malate, but not for (d) Fumaric acid, Phenylalanine, Leucine, Citruline, and Methylhistidine, all of which were elevated in the CM of E0771-OVA+ cells containing AADAT-KD (see ). Spatial profiles of metabolites and CD8+ functional T cells were derived from 31 TNBC tumors using two consecutive 5-micron sections of a Tissue Microarray, integrating data from imaging mass spectrometry (about 20-cell resolution) and imaging mass cytometry (single-cell resolution). Each dot represents a pixel indicating the levels (see scale bars) of metabolites or of a CD8+ functional T cell cluster. (e) Plot showing a positive correlation between average levels of functional T-cell clusters and malate. A total of 5245 aligned IMS-IMC spots from 31 TNBC patient samples were examined to explore the relationship between functional T-cells and malate levels at each location. For data visualization, spots were categorized into 10-percentile bins, and the mean values of both functional T cells and malate within each bin were plotted. A Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated, along with the P-value, using a one-tailed Student’s t-test. Results showed a significant positive correlation between functional T cells and malate across the binned spots in the TNBC tumors. (f) Same as in (e) but demonstrating a negative correlation between exhausted T cells and malate. (g) The average pixel intensity of malate, measured by imaging mass spectrometry (IMS), was assessed in each tissue core of the TNBC tissue microarray, and patients were stratified into high (n=13) and low (n=18) malate groups based on the median. An inset shows representative cores with high and low malate levels. The P-value was determined using a two-tailed unpaired Student’s t-test. (h) Kaplan-Meier plot illustrating disease-specific survival among TNBC patients, divided by median spatial malate levels. The P-value was determined using the log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test. The count of patients in each group is shown. (i) Dot plot showing Z-score normalized malate levels in conditioned media of E0771-ova+ and 4T1 cells, with two independent doxycycline-induced AADAT knockdowns (AADAT-iKD1 and AADAT-iKD2) compared to their uninduced controls (Control-iKD1 and Control-iKD2). Each group (iKD1 and iKD2) includes three biological replicates, each with three technical replicates. P values comparing induced KD to uninduced control within each group were calculated using an unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test. The overall P value was obtained by combining the two group P values with Fisher’s method. (j) Similar to panel i, but in 4T1 cells stably transduced with either control non-targeted shRNA (shNT), Aadat-specific shRNAs (shAadat-2), or an Aadat re-expression construct (shAADAT-2+AADAT), each with three biological replicates. P values were determined using an unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test.
Article Snippet: After 24 hours of co-culture and treatment (where applicable), the entire well of co-cultured cells was harvested for flow cytometry analysis to assess tumor cell survival and T cell populations by staining with 1:200 dilutions of CD45 (Biolegend, Cat #103155), CD8 (Cytek, Cat # 35-0081-U500), and CD3e antibodies (Biolegend, Cat # 155703).
Techniques: Control, Functional Assay, Derivative Assay, Microarray, Imaging, Mass Spectrometry, Mass Cytometry, One-tailed Test, Two Tailed Test, Stable Transfection, Transduction, shRNA, Expressing, Construct