Gut Microbiota and Colon Cancer: A Role for Bacterial Protein Toxins?

Gut Microbiota and Colon Cancer: A Role for Bacterial Protein Toxins?

Accumulating evidence indicates that the human intestinal microbiota can contribute to the etiology of colorectal cancer. Triggering factors, including inflammation and bacterial infections, may favor the shift of the gut microbiota from a mutualistic to a pro-carcinogenic configuration. In this con...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carla Fiorentini, Francesca Carlini, Elena Angela Pia Germinario, Zaira Maroccia, Sara Travaglione, Alessia Fabbri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
colorectal neoplasms
gut microbiota
bacterial protein toxin
bacterial infections
inflammation
carcinogenesis
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/17/6201
Description
Summary:Accumulating evidence indicates that the human intestinal microbiota can contribute to the etiology of colorectal cancer. Triggering factors, including inflammation and bacterial infections, may favor the shift of the gut microbiota from a mutualistic to a pro-carcinogenic configuration. In this context, certain bacterial pathogens can exert a pro-tumoral activity by producing enzymatically-active protein toxins that either directly induce host cell DNA damage or interfere with essential host cell signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammation. This review is focused on those toxins that, by mimicking carcinogens and cancer promoters, could represent a paradigm for bacterially induced carcinogenesis.
ISSN:1661-6596
1422-0067

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