Fig. 1

MIIP is found to be downregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) samples, showing an inverse correlation with the browning of peri-cancerous adipose tissue. a Immunoblots were performed to assess MIIP protein levels in 14 paired colorectal cancer samples and adjacent normal tissues from human patients. T represents tumor tissue, and A represents adjacent normal tissue. b RT-qPCR was used to detect the MIIP mRNA level in clinical colorectal cancer samples described in a; the P-value was calculated using a stratified log rank test (n = 14). c Immunohistochemical staining on tissue microarrays (TMAs) composed of colorectal cancer and adjacent normal tissues was used to evaluate MIIP expression. Representative images are shown, with a scale bar of 200 μm (black/top) and 50 μm (red/bottom). d Statistical analysis of MIIP expression in CRC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was performed using IHC staining on the TMA shown in c. The staining score was calculated by multiplying the stained area (%) score (≤ 5%: 0, 6–25%: 1, 25–50%: 2, 51–75%: 3, ≥ 75%: 4) and the intensity score (colorless: 0, mild: 1, moderate: 2, strong: 3). High expression was specified as a score greater than or equal to 9, while low expression corresponded to a score less than 9. All scoring work was performed independently by two pathologists. e Representative images of H&E staining on clinical CRC samples are shown (Scale bar: 200 μm). The tumor growth exposes it to the adjacent adipose tissue, mainly composed of adipocytes. f IHC staining was used to assess the endogenous levels of MIIP, UCP1, and p-HSL in clinically defined human colorectal cancer samples. Statistical analysis was also conducted. g UCP1 mRNA level was detected in clinical colorectal cancer samples and paired adjacent normal tissues described in a–b (n = 14). Grade refers to WHO histological grade. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001