Alteration of fecal tryptophan metabolism correlates with shifted microbiota and may be involved in pathogenesis of colorectal cancer
Xizhen Sun, Dongyan Zhao, Yuan-Chen Zhou, Qianqian Wang, Qin Geng, Shukun Yao
Abstract
BACKGROUND: and animal models. We hypothesized that there is an alteration of gut Trp metabolism mediated by microbiota and that it might be involved in the pathogenesis of cancer in patients with CRC. AIM: To investigate the features of Trp metabolism in CRC and the correlation between fecal Trp metabolites and gut microbiota. METHODS: ) mRNA were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The gut microbiota was detected by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Correlations between fecal metabolites and other parameters were examined in all patients. RESULTS: ) decreased in CRC and exhibited a positive correlation with indoles in all subjects. CONCLUSION: Alteration of fecal Trp metabolism mediated by microbiota is associated with intestinal barrier function and tissue Trp metabolism, and may be involved in the pathogenesis of CRC.