Abstract PL01-02: Influence of the microbiota on cellular proliferation and survival

The resident prokaryotic microbiota of the mammalian intestine influences diverse homeostatic functions of the gut, including maintenance of barrier function, modulation of immune responses, as well as energy and nutrient extraction. Additionally, through studies of germ free mice, it has become apparent that commensal prokaryotic organisms are involved in the regulation of growth and survival in the intestinal epithelia, and thus may play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of colon cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms of growth control by prokaryotes in the gut are largely unknown. It is increasingly recognized that physiologically generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as signaling secondary messengers that influence cellular proliferation and differentiation in a variety of biological systems. We have shown that commensal bacteria, particularly members of the genus Lactobacillus, can activate NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1)-dependent ROS generation and modulate multiple cellular pathways, including NF-kB, ERK-MAPK and focal adhesion kinase, that are involved in control of epithelial cellular survival, proliferation, and migration. ROS inducing commensal bacteria can rapidly stimulate consequent cellular proliferation in intestinal stem cells upon initial ingestion into the murine or Drosophila intestine, illustrating the highly conserved nature of this host microbe interaction. Additionally, a well-studied and evolutionarily highly conserved system for transducin...
Source: Cancer Prevention Research - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Other Topics in Epidemiology/Lifestyle Factors: Oral Presentations - Invited Abstracts Source Type: research