Fig. 4

Metabolic differences between M1 and M2 macrophages. In the tumor microenvironment, the metabolic differences between M1 and M2 macrophages are closely linked to the onset and progression of cancer. Typically, both M1 macrophages and cancer cells primarily undergo glycolysis, leading to metabolic competition. As the malignancy of the tumor progresses, M1 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment are gradually reprogrammed into M2 macrophages, shifting their metabolism to oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, the exchange of metabolic products between M2 macrophages and cancer cells further promotes the manifestation of the tumor’s biological characteristics. This process highlights the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and underscores the crucial role of macrophages in tumor development. ppp pentose phosphate pathway, NADPH nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced form), HIF-1α hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha, OXPHOS oxidative phosphorylation, GLUT1 glucose transporter type 1, MCT4 monocarboxylate transporter 4, MCT1 monocarboxylate transporter 1, SLC1A5 solute carrier family 1 member 5, IL-4 interleukin-4, IL-13 interleukin-13, TGF-β transforming growth factor-beta, FAO fatty acid oxidation, 25HC 25-hydroxycholesterol, AMPKα AMP-activated protein kinase alpha, MAO-A monoamine oxidase A, ROS reactive oxygen species, MAT2A methionine adenosyltransferase 2A