Fig. 2

Loss of CAV-1 and myofibroblast differentiation. a In the cell membrane of normal fibroblasts, many CAV-1 molecules are located in the lipid raft. These cells mainly depend on the OXPHOS pathway for energy production due to the high number of mitochondria. b Exposure to ROS in the TME increases autophagy and loss of CAV-1. Lack of mitochondria shifts metabolism towards glycolysis, and lactate generation drives myofibroblast differentiation. c Catabolic CAFs tend to couple with anabolic cancer cells in a metabolic compartment. Anabolic cancer cells have mitochondrial reach cytoplasm and deeply depend on OXPHOS. This phenomenon is known as “the reverse Warburg effect.” CAV Caveolin, MCT monocarboxylate transporter, OXPHOS oxidation phosphorylation