<i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> drives CD40-mediated dendritic cell activation and Th17/Treg imbalance to exacerbate intestinal inflammation in Crohn's disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease characterized by persistent mucosal inflammation and immune dysregulation. While alterations in gut microbial composition are known to contribute to CD pathogenesis, the precise mechanisms linking specific microbial species to immune dysfunction remain unclear. Here, we identify Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), a pathobiont enriched in CD patients, as a key driver of dendritic cell (DC) activation and downstream Th17/Treg imbalance.

Methods

Fecal and colonic mucosal samples from CD patients and healthy controls were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. A TNBS-induced colitis model with adoptive DC transfer, was used to evaluate the impact of Fn on intestinal inflammation, DC activ

SUBMITTER: Wang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12815848 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature