High-Fat Diet Promotes Colorectal Tumorigenesis Through Modulating Gut Microbiota and Metabolites

Background and Aims

Dietary fat intake is associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). We examined the role of high-fat diet (HFD) in driving CRC through modulating gut microbiota and metabolites.

Methods

HFD or control diet was fed to mice littermates in CRC mouse models of an azoxymethane (AOM) model and Apc^min/+ model, with or without antibiotics cocktail treatment. Germ-free mice for fecal microbiota transplantation were used for validation. Gut microbiota and metabolites were detected using metagenomic sequencing and high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, respectively. Gut barrier function was determined using lipopolysaccharides level and transmission electron microscopy.

Results

HFD promoted colorectal tumorigenesis in both AOM-treated mice and Apc^min/+ mice compared with control diet–fed mice. Gut microbiota depletion using antibiotics attenuated colon tumor formation in HFD-fed mice. A significant shift of gut microbiota composition with increased pathogenic bacteria Alistipes sp. Marseille-P5997 and Alistipes sp. 5CPEGH6, and depleted probiotic Parabacteroides distasonis, along with impaired gut barrier function was exhibited in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, HFD-modulated gut microbiota promotes colorectal tumorigenesis in AOM-treated germ-free mice, indicating gut microbiota was essential in HFD-associated colorectal tumorigenesis. Gut metabolites alteration, including elevated lysophosphatidic acid, which was confirmed to promote CRC cell proliferation and impair cell junction, was also observed in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, transfer of stools from HFD-fed mice to germ-free mice without interference increased colonic cell proliferation, impaired gut barrier function, and induced oncogenic genes expression.

Conclusions

HFD drives colorectal tumorigenesis through inducing gut microbial dysbiosis, metabolomic dysregulation with elevated lysophosphatidic acid, and gut barrier dysfunction in mice.