Scientists finally solved how a common gut bacterium triggers colon cancer
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified a specific host protein, claudin-4, that allows a gut bacterium toxin to damage colon cells. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic strategies for preventing colorectal cancer.
Why it matters
Understanding the mechanism of bacterial-induced inflammation provides a potential pathway for early detection and treatment of colon-related diseases.
Scientists have uncovered how a toxin produced by a common gut bacterium gains access to colon cells, solving a mystery that has puzzled researchers for more than 15 years. The discovery not only explains how the toxin begins damaging the colon, but also points to a possible new way to block its effects before they contribute to colorectal cancer.
The findings come from a multi-institutional team led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Published in Nature , the study shows that the toxin, known as BFT and produced by Bacteroides fragilis , must first attach to a host protein called claudin-4 before it can injure colon cells. The research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health.
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