Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (19): 4902-4910.doi: 10.12307/2026.247

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of lactylated mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein on stemness expression of breast tumor stem cells

Wu Fang1, Tao Xiang2, He Wenying1, Xie Jixin1, Liao Hailei1, Wang Libin2, Wang Lijuan1   

  1. 1Basic Medical College, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China; 2Nanshan District People's Hospital of Shenzhen City, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2025-09-02 Accepted:2025-11-29 Online:2026-07-08 Published:2026-02-14
  • Contact: Wang Lijuan, MD, Professor, Basic Medical College, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China; Wang Libin, MD, Professor, Nanshan District People's Hospital of Shenzhen City, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong Province, China
  • About author:Wu Fang, Master candidate, Basic Medical College, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    Ningxia Natural Science Foundation, No. 2024AAC03197 (to WLJ); National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. NSFC32160094 (to WLJ); National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82260610 (to WLB); Ningxia Natural Science Foundation (Key Project), No. 2023AAC02059 (to WLB); Shenzhen Nanshan District Health System Science and Technology Major Project, No. NSZD2024021, NSZD2025002 (to WLB) 

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein is one of the key executor proteins in the necroptosis pathway and plays an important role in various diseases. However, the mechanism by which its lactylation affects the formation and differentiation of breast tumor stem cells remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein K230 site lactylation on the stemness expression of breast tumor stem cells.
METHODS: The differences in protein lactylation between breast tumor MCF-7 adherent cells and spheroidal stem cells were analyzed by mass spectrometry. The mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein and its lactylation sites related to tumor stem cells were screened. A mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein K230R mutant plasmid vector was constructed and transfected into MCF-7 breast tumor cells. The proliferation and migration abilities of the cells were detected by CCK-8 and scratch assays. The effect of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein K230R mutation on the formation of breast tumor stem cells was verified by cell suspension spheroid formation experiments. The expression of tumor stem cell-related and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins was detected by western blot assay.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein K230 is highly lactylated in breast cancer stem cells. Compared with wild-type cells, K230R mutant cells showed significantly reduced wound healing and stem cell sphere formation rates, significantly increased expression of epithelial-associated proteins, and significantly decreased expression of interstitial-associated proteins and stemness-associated proteins. It is indicated that lactic acidification at the K230 site of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition, enhances the formation of breast tumor stem cells, and thereby contributes to the occurrence and development of breast tumors.

Key words: breast tumor, breast tumor stem cells, mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein, lactylation

CLC Number: