Cited by 565Gut microbiota and healthCancer Research and TreatmentsCancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers

Peptostreptococcus anaerobius promotes colorectal carcinogenesis and modulates tumour immunity

Long, Xiaohang, Wong, Chi Chun, Tong, Li, Chu, Eagle S. H., Ho Szeto, Chun, Go, Minne Y. Y., Coker, Olabisi Oluwabukola, Chan, Anthony W. H. +3 more·2019·Nature Microbiology

Abstract

Emerging evidence implicates a role of the gut microbiota in colorectal cancer (CRC). Peptostreptococcus anaerobius (P. anaerobius) is an anaerobic bacterium selectively enriched in the faecal and mucosal microbiota from patients with CRC, but its causative role and molecular mechanism in promoting tumorigenesis remain unestablished. We demonstrate that P. anaerobius adheres to the CRC mucosa and accelerates CRC development in Apc Min/+ mice. In vitro assays and transmission electron microscopy revealed that P. anaerobius selectively adheres to CRC cell lines (HT-29 and Caco-2) compared to normal colonic epithelial cells (NCM460). We identified a P. anaerobius surface protein, putative cell wall binding repeat 2 (PCWBR2), which directly interacts with colonic cell lines via α 2/β 1 integrin, a receptor frequently overexpressed in human CRC tumours and cell lines. Interaction between PCWBR2 and integrin α 2/β 1 induces the activation of the PI3K-Akt pathway in CRC cells via phospho-focal adhesion kinase, leading to increased cell proliferation and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activation. NF-κB in turn triggers a pro-inflammatory response as indicated by increased levels of cytokines, such as interleukin-10 and interferon-γ in the tumours of P. anaerobius-treated Apc Min/+ mice. Analyses of tumour-infiltrating immune cell populations in P. anaerobius-treated Apc Min/+ mice revealed significant expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, tumour-associated macrophages and granulocytic tumour-associated neutrophils, which are associated with chronic inflammation and tumour progression. Blockade of integrin α 2/β 1 by RGDS peptide, small interfering RNA or antibodies all impair P. anaerobius attachment and abolish P. anaerobius-mediated oncogenic response in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, we show that P. anaerobius drives CRC via a PCWBR2-integrin α 2/β 1-PI3K-Akt-NF-κB signalling axis and identify the PCWBR2-integrin α 2/β 1 axis as a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41564-019-0541-3

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Authors
Long, X., Wong, C. C., Tong, L., Chu, E. S. H., Ho Szeto, C., Go, M. Y. Y., Coker, O. O., Chan, A. W. H., Chan, F. K. L., Sung, J. J. Y., & Yu, J.
Affiliations
Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
Corresponding author
Yu, Jun
Venue
Nature Microbiology
Published
2019-09-09
Volume
4
Issue
12
Pages
2319-2330
ISSN
2058-5276 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2972734154
Cited by
557
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 88 · 2025: 101 · 2024: 87 · 2023: 112 · 2022: 72 · 2021: 64 · 2020: 31 · 2017: 1
FWCI
13.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biotechnology › Cancer Research and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
Keywords
Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, colorectal cancer, colorectal carcinogenesis, gut microbiota, bacterial adhesion, PI3K/Akt signaling, NF-κB, focal adhesion kinase, tumour immunity, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, tumour-associated macrophages, tumor-associated neutrophils, chronic inflammation, ApcMin/+ mice, RGDS peptide, therapeutic target, tumor microenvironment
MeSH terms
Animals, Biotin, Cell Survival, Colon, Disease Models, Animal, Humans, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Peptostreptococcus, Colorectal Neoplasms, Signal Transduction, Cytokines, NF-kappa B, Caco-2 Cells, HT29 Cells, Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases, Gene Expression Profiling, Integrin alpha2beta1, Cell Proliferation, Mice, Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, Gene Knockdown Techniques, Carcinogenesis

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