Microbiota-induced activation of epithelial IL-6 signaling links inflammasome-driven inflammation with transmissible cancer

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jun 11;110(24):9862-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1307575110. Epub 2013 May 21.

Abstract

The microbiota is pivotal in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated inflammation-induced colorectal cancer (CRC), yet mechanisms for these effects remain poorly characterized. Here, we demonstrate that aberrant inflammasome-induced microbiota plays a critical role in CRC development, where mice deficient in the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 6 (NLRP6) inflammasome feature enhanced inflammation-induced CRC formation. Intriguingly, WT mice cohoused either with inflammasome-deficient mice or with mice lacking IL-18 feature exacerbated inflammation-induced CRC compared with singly housed WT mice. Enhanced tumorigenesis is dependent on microbiota-induced chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5)-driven inflammation, which in turn promotes epithelial cell proliferation through local activation of the IL-6 pathway, leading to cancer formation. Altogether, our results mechanistically link the altered microbiota with the pathogenesis of inflammation-induced CRC and suggest that in some conditions, microbiota components may transfer CRC susceptibility between individuals.

Keywords: ASC; colon cancer; microflora.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chemokine CCL5 / deficiency
  • Chemokine CCL5 / genetics
  • Chemokine CCL5 / immunology
  • Colitis / genetics
  • Colitis / immunology
  • Colitis / metabolism
  • Colonoscopy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Epithelium / immunology
  • Epithelium / metabolism
  • Epithelium / microbiology
  • Female
  • Inflammasomes / immunology*
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Interleukin-18 / deficiency
  • Interleukin-18 / genetics
  • Interleukin-18 / immunology
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology*
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Metagenome / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / deficiency
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / immunology
  • Signal Transduction / immunology

Substances

  • Chemokine CCL5
  • Inflammasomes
  • Interleukin-18
  • Interleukin-6
  • Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 6, mouse
  • Receptors, Cell Surface