AUTHOR=Li Xiang , Huang Jiepeng , Yu Tingting , Fang Xiaoting , Lou Liqin , Xin Shijun , Ji Ling , Jiang Feizhao , Lou Yongliang 

TITLE=Fusobacterium nucleatum Promotes the Progression of Colorectal Cancer Through Cdk5-Activated Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.545251

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2020.545251

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background/Aims</title><p>Growing evidence supports the direct link of <italic>Fusobacterium nucleatum</italic> with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, to date, the underlying mechanism of action remains poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effects of <italic>F. nucleatum</italic> on the progression of CRC and investigated whether cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is involved in the effect through activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.</p></sec><sec><title>Materials and Methods</title><p>CRC tissues and matched histologically normal specimens were collected from patients who were diagnosed with CRC and underwent surgical treatment in our hospital between January 2018 and January 2019. Two human CRC cell lines, including DLD-1 and SW480, were utilized mainly for <italic>in vitro</italic> mechanistic investigations.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The abundance of <italic>F. nucleatum</italic> was significantly greater in CRC tissues than in cancer-free specimens, which was significantly correlated with the progression of CRC. <italic>In vitro</italic> investigations revealed that <italic>F. nucleatum</italic> significantly enhanced the proliferation and migration of CRC cells. Furthermore, <italic>F. nucleatum</italic> significantly induced the expression of Cdk5 and activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Notably, knockdown of Cdk5 significantly abrogated the effects of <italic>F. nucleatum</italic> on cellular processes and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in relation to the progression of CRC.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>The results of this study demonstrate that <italic>F. nucleatum</italic> orchestrates a molecular network involving the direct role of Cdk5 in activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling to modulate CRC progression. Thus, in-depth investigations of <italic>F. nucleatum-</italic>associated molecular pathways may offer valuable insight into the pathogenesis of CRC, which may help further the development of treatment for this disease.</p></sec>