The myeloid immune signature of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis-induced murine colon tumorigenesis

Mucosal Immunol. 2017 Mar;10(2):421-433. doi: 10.1038/mi.2016.53. Epub 2016 Jun 15.

Abstract

Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF), a human commensal and candidate pathogen in colorectal cancer (CRC), is a potent initiator of interleukin-17 (IL-17)-dependent colon tumorigenesis in MinApc+/- mice. We examined the role of IL-17 and ETBF on the differentiation of myeloid cells into myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor-associated macrophages, which are known to promote tumorigenesis. The myeloid compartment associated with ETBF-induced colon tumorigenesis in Min mice was defined using flow cytometry and gene expression profiling. Cell-sorted immature myeloid cells were functionally assayed for inhibition of T-cell proliferation and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression to delineate MDSC populations. A comparison of ETBF infection with that of other oncogenic bacteria (Fusobacterium nucleatum or pks+Escherichia coli) revealed a specific, ETBF-associated colonic immune infiltrate. ETBF-triggered colon tumorigenesis is associated with an IL-17-driven myeloid signature characterized by subversion of steady-state myelopoiesis in favor of the generation of protumoral monocytic-MDSCs (MO-MDSCs). Combined action of the B. fragilis enterotoxin BFT and IL-17 on colonic epithelial cells promoted the differentiation of MO-MDSCs, which selectively upregulated Arg1 and Nos2, produced NO, and suppressed T-cell proliferation. Evidence of a pathogenic inflammatory signature in humans colonized with ETBF may allow for the identification of populations at risk for developing colon cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arginase / genetics
  • Arginase / metabolism
  • Bacterial Toxins / immunology
  • Bacteroides Infections / immunology*
  • Bacteroides fragilis / immunology*
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Colon / immunology
  • Colon / microbiology*
  • Colon / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epithelial Cells / immunology*
  • Genes, APC
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Metalloendopeptidases / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / immunology*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Interleukin-17
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nos2 protein, mouse
  • Bacteroides fragilis toxin
  • Metalloendopeptidases
  • Arg1 protein, mouse
  • Arginase