News Release

Research Article Cites Cleanascite™ To Help Define the role of Lipids in Macrophage Polarization in Liver Cancer

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, NJ , June 19, 2024 -- Biotech Support Group reports on an article, describing the simplicity and efficiency of their lipid clearance sample preparation technology to determine the role of lipids in a study about the impact of chronic phthalate exposure on liver cancer development. The citation is:

Zhang, T., Zhao, F., Hu, Y. et al. Environmental monobutyl phthalate exposure promotes liver cancer via reprogrammed cholesterol metabolism and activation of the IRE1α-XBP1s pathway. Oncogene (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-024-03086-1

Humans are widely exposed to phthalates, a major chemical plasticizer that accumulates in the liver. However, little is known about the impact of chronic phthalate exposure on liver cancer development. In this study, we applied a long-term cell culture model by treating the liver cancer cell HepG2 and normal hepatocyte L02 to environmental dosage of monobutyl phthalate (MBP), the main metabolite of phthalates. Interestingly, we found that long-term MBP exposure significantly accelerated the growth of HepG2 cells in vitro and in vivo. MBP exposure triggered the reprogramming of lipid metabolism, which contributed to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Abnormalities in lipid metabolism is a molecular hallmark for not only cancer cells, but also tumor-associated immune cells.

To study those abnormalities, the article states “ To investigate the role of lipids in regulating the macrophage function, we first employed Cleanascite to remove all lipids and lipoproteins from the conditioned media (CM) of HepG2 cells. Interestingly, lipid-depleted HepG2 CM significantly suppressed the migration ability of THP-1PMA cells both in control and MBP-exposed groups (Fig. S8D). Also, the expression of M2-type markers (such as CD206, CD163, and ARG1) in THP-1PMA cells dramatically decreased after lipid clearance, while the expression of M1-type markers (such as iNOS, CD80, and CD86) was up-regulated (Fig. S8E).”

Figure S8. MBP-induced tumor cell cholesterol accumulation promotes macrophage infiltration and M2-polarization

(D) Detection of THP-1 ^PMA cell migration ability affected by conditioned medium (CM) from P30 HepG2 ^MBP and HepG2^Veh cells treated with or without Cleanascite (n = 3). Scale bar, 50 μm. (E) THP-1 ^PMA cells were exposed to CM derived from HepG2^MBP or HepG2^Veh cells treated with or without Cleanascite for 6 days, then qPCR was performed (n = 3).

The authors conclude that MBP induced cholesterol accumulation in HepG2 cells, facilitated M2 polarization of macrophages, thereby contributing to an immunosuppressive Tumor microenvironment (TME) that further favored cancer development.

“We now have over thirty references, showing Cleanascite™ use in helping to identify a characteristic feature of in vitro cell response. Notably, four references specifically investigated the role of lipids in macrophage polarization in cancer cell lines. Unlike alternative lipid-depletion methods that use solvents, Cleanascite™ is an aqueous suspension product and so it is very compatible with cellular models of disease. The essential requirement is the maintenance of cellular activity after lipid depletion, to determine whether lipid factors are associated with phenotypic changes in cultured cells” states Swapan Roy, Ph.D., President and Founder of Biotech Support Group.

Download whitepaper entitled “ Cleanascite™ - Lipid Removal and Cell Response Applications ”, visit:

For more information visit: Cleanascite™ Lipid Removal Reagent and Clarification, at
http://www.biotechsupportgroup.com/Cleanascite-Lipid-Removal-Reagent-p/x2555.htm

Keywords: Lipid depletion, lipid metabolism, Cleanascite™, phthalate exposure , liver cancer, macrophage polarization

About Biotech Support Group LLC

Converging with cultural and technological disruptions forthcoming in healthcare, Biotech Support Group develops methods for cost effective and efficient sample prep essential for these expanding markets. Following a tiered business strategy, the company continues its growth in the consumable research products area supporting the rapidly expanding installation of LC-MS instrument and computational infrastructure. For this market, key products include: AlbuVoid™ and AlbuSorb™ PLUS for albumin & IgG depletion, Cleanascite ™ for lipid adsorption, HemogloBind™ and HemoVoid™ for hemoglobin removal, and NRicher™ for targeted proteomics and family specific proteome enrichment. For more information, go to http://www.biotechsupportgroup.com.

For Business Development , contact: Matthew Kuruc 732-274-2866, mkuruc@biotechsupportgroup.com