Gut microbiota protects against gastrointestinal tumorigenesis caused by epithelial injury.

ABSTRACT: Inflammation is a critical player in the development of both colitis-associated and sporadic colon cancers. Several studies suggest that the microbiota contribute to inflammation and tumorigenesis; however, studies to understand the role of the microbiota in colon tumor development in germ-free (GF) mice are limited. We therefore studied the effects of the microbiota on the development of inflammation and tumors in GF and conventionally raised specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice treated with azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). We discovered that GF mice developed significantly more and larger tumors compared with that in SPF mice after AOM and DSS treatment despite the lack of early acute inflammation in response to chemically induced injury by DSS. Although the extent of in

SUBMITTER: Zhan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3883499 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature