연구성과 홍보

Sci Rep. 2024 Dec 5;14(1):30308.

Title : Toll-like receptor 3 signaling attenuated colitis-associated cancer development in mice

Authers : Kee Young Chung1, 2, Seulji Kim3,2, Hee Tae Yoon2, So Hyun Kwon2, Hyun Sun Park2,4, Jong Pil Im5, Joo Sung Kim5, Ji Won Kim6, Yoo Min Han2,7, Seong-Joon Koh8,9,10

Affiliations :

1Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea.

2Laboratory of Intestinal Mucosa and Skin Immunology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

3Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea.

4Department of Dermatology, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

5Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

6Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

7Department of Internal Medicine and Healthcare Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, Korea.

8Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea. jel1206@snu.ac.kr.

9Laboratory of Intestinal Mucosa and Skin Immunology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jel1206@snu.ac.kr.

10Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. jel1206@snu.ac.kr.

DOI : 10.1038/s41598-024-76954-1

Abstract :

Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with a high risk of colitis-associated cancer (CAC). We evaluated the role of TLR3 in CAC using a murine model. Wild-type (WT) and TLR3-knockout (TLR3-/-) mice received azoxymethane (AOM) 12.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally on day zero, followed by three cycles of 2% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for five days and free water for two weeks. We evaluated clinical indices, such as weight change, colon length, histological severity of colitis, and tumor number. We performed immunofluorescence assays for phospho-IκB kinase and β-catenin in colon tissues. To elucidate the antitumorigenic mechanism of TLR3 signaling, we injected poly(I: C) or phosphate-buffered saline intraperitoneally into an AOM/DSS-induced tumorigenesis model in WT mice. We also evaluate the direct antitumor effect of TLR signaling in AOM-treated WT and TLR3-/- mice without DSS. TLR3 deficiency increased tumor burden and colitis severity in the colon tissue than in the WT mice. β-catenin immunoreactivity was higher in TLR3-/- mice, while phospho-IκB kinase expression was similar. TLR3 activation by poly(I: C) did not reduce tumor burden in WT mice, but long-term AOM administration without DSS significantly increased tumor burden in TLR3-/- mice. TLR3 signaling attenuates CAC development, suggesting it may be a target for preventing CAC in inflammatory bowel disease.