Gut Microbiome and Colon Cancer: Role of Bacterial Metabolites and Their Molecular Targets in the Host

Overview

Journal Curr Colorectal Cancer Rep

Publisher Springer

Date 2018 Oct 20

PMID 30337849

Citations 17

Authors

Yangzom D Bhutia

Jiro Ogura

Sathish Sivaprakasam

Vadivel Ganapathy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: The relationship between colonic bacteria and the host is symbiotic, but how communication between the two partners occurs is just beginning to be understood at the molecular level. Here, we highlight specific products of bacterial metabolism that are present in the colonic lumen and their molecular targets in the host that facilitate this communication.

Recent Findings: Colonic epithelial cells and mucosal immune cells express several cell-surface receptors and nuclear receptors that are activated by specific bacterial metabolites, which impact multiple signaling pathways and expression of many genes. In addition, some bacterial metabolites also possess the ability to cause epigenetic changes in these cells via inhibition of selective enzymes involved in the maintenance of histone acetylation and DNA methylation patterns.

Summary: Colonic bacteria communicate with their host with selective metabolites that interact with host molecular targets. This chemical communication underlies a broad range of the biology and function of colonic epithelial cells and mucosal immune cells, which protect against inflammation and carcinogenesis in the colon under normal physiological conditions.

Citing Articles

Gut microbiota therapy in gastrointestinal diseases.

Ullah H, Arbab S, Chang C, Bibi S, Muhammad N, Rehman S Front Cell Dev Biol. 2025; 13:1514636.

PMID: 40078367 PMC: 11897527. DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1514636.

Pan-Cancer Insights: A Study of Microbial Metabolite Receptors in Malignancy Dynamics.

Dovrolis N, Spathakis M, Collins A, Pandey V, Uddin M, Anderson D Cancers (Basel). 2025; 16(24.

PMID: 39766077 PMC: 11674037. DOI: 10.3390/cancers16244178.

Unraveling the Role of the Human Gut Microbiome in Health and Diseases.

Khalil M, Di Ciaula A, Mahdi L, Jaber N, Di Palo D, Graziani A Microorganisms. 2024; 12(11).

PMID: 39597722 PMC: 11596745. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12112333.

Colonic ketogenesis, a microbiota-regulated process, contributes to blood ketones and protects against colitis in mice.

Bass K, Sivaprakasam S, Dharmalingam-Nandagopal G, Thangaraju M, Ganapathy V Biochem J. 2024; 481(4):295-312.

PMID: 38372391 PMC: 10903465. DOI: 10.1042/BCJ20230403.

The Networked Interaction between Probiotics and Intestine in Health and Disease: A Promising Success Story.

Skoufou M, Tsigalou C, Vradelis S, Bezirtzoglou E Microorganisms. 2024; 12(1).

PMID: 38258020 PMC: 10818559. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010194.

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