Fusobacterium nucleatum and its metabolite hydrogen sulfide alter gut microbiota composition and autophagy process and promote colorectal cancer progression

ABSTRACT Fusobacterium nucleatum is a harmful bacterium that produces hydrogen sulfide by metabolizing sulfur-containing amino acids, both of which have been shown to promote/initiate the development of various cancers, such as colorectal cancer, liver cancer, as well as lung cancer. However, few studies have reported how F. nucleatum acts on gut microbiota, influences the autophagy process, and promotes the development of colorectal cancer through the metabolite hydrogen sulfide. It was found that HCT116 cells secreted more inflammatory factors and showed higher survival as well as migration rate when given a pathological concentration of hydrogen sulfide. Using cellular transcriptome sequencing, it could be seen that after giving HCT116 cells F. nucleatum or F. nucleatum with L-cysteine, many inflammation-related signaling pathways, including autophagic pathways, were elevated compared to the control group. In vivo , the mice in the model groups displayed cancer progression, and the expression of some of the autophagy-related genes, DRAM1 , NBR1 , ATG7 , MAP1LC3A were also increased in mice given F. nucleatum or F. nucleatum with L-cysteine when compared to the untreated control mice. The number of certain probiotic bacteria and fungi in the mice given F. nucleatum or F. nucleatum and L-cysteine decreased significantly; in contrast, the number of potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi increased. These findings suggest that F. nucleatum and its metabolite hydrogen sulfide can modulate intestinal microbiota and autophagy as well as promote the development and progression of colorectal cancer. IMPORTANCE Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in the world; the main treatment for CRC is immunosuppressive therapy, but this therapy is only effective for a small percentage of CRC patients, so there is an urgent need for a treatment with fewer side effects and higher efficacy. This study demonstrated that Fusobacterium nucleatum with increased abundance in CRC can regulate the autophagy process and disrupt normal intestinal microbiota by producing hydrogen sulfide, factors that may be involved in the development and progression of CRC. This study may provide a reference for future CRC treatment options that are efficient and have fewer side effects.