Murine breast cancers disorganize the liver transcriptome in a zonated manner

Progressive, multi-organ, and multi-layered nature of cancer cachexia

Cancer cachexia is a complex, multifaceted condition that negatively impacts the health, treatment efficacy, and economic status of cancer patients. The management of cancer cachexia is an essential clinical need. Cancer cachexia is currently defined mainly according to the severity of weight loss and sarcopenia (i.e., macrosymptoms). However, such macrosymptoms may be insufficient to give clinicians clues on how to manage this condition as these symptoms appear at the late stage of cancer. We need to understand earlier events during the progression of cancer cachexia so as not to miss a clinical opportunity to control this complex syndrome. Recent research indicates that cancer-induced changes in the host are much wider than previously recognized, including disruption of liver function and the immune system. Furthermore, such changes are observed before the occurrence of visible distant metastases (i.e., in early, localized cancers). In light of these findings, we propose to expand the definition of cancer cachexia to include all cancer-induced changes to host physiology, including changes caused by early, localized cancers. This new definition of cancer cachexia can provide a new perspective on this topic, which can stimulate the research and development of novel cancer cachexia therapies.

Compartmentalization, cooperation, and communication: The 3Cs of Hepatocyte zonation

The unique architecture of the liver allows for spatial compartmentalization of its functions, also known as liver zonation. In contrast to organelles and cells, this compartment is devoid of a surrounding membrane, rendering traditional biochemical tools ineffective for studying liver zonation. Recent advancements in tissue imaging and single-cell technologies have provided new insights into the complexity of tissue organization, rich cellular composition, and the gradients that shape zonation. Hepatocyte gene expression profiles and metabolic programs differ based on their location. Non-parenchymal cells further support hepatocytes from different zones through local secretion of factors that instruct hepatocyte activities. Collectively, these elements form a cohesive and dynamic network of cell-cell interactions that vary across space, time, and disease states. This review will examine the cell biology of hepatocytes in vivo, presenting the latest discoveries and emerging principles that govern tissue-level and sub-cellular compartmentalization.