Metabolic effects of periodontal pathogens Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis in colorectal cancer cells

Background

Periodontal pathogens are increasingly recognized as key regulators of cancer biology. However, their roles in modulating metabolism-related gene expression in colorectal cancer remain poorly understood.

Methods

Human colorectal cancer (HCT)116 cells were exposed to Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis for 6 h and 24 h. Expression levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism (ACAT1 and PLD2), amino acid metabolism (PAH), polyamine synthesis (SMS), kynurenine pathway (KYNU), and detoxification (ALDH2) were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The expression profiles of these genes were also compared between colorectal tumor and normal tissues using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA-seq data.

Results