The role of innate immunity in the protection conferred by a bacterial infection against cancer: study of an invertebrate model

Jacqueline, C., Parvy, J.-P., Rollin, M.-L., Faugère, D., Renaud, F., Missé, D., Thomas, F. and Roche, B. (2020) The role of innate immunity in the protection conferred by a bacterial infection against cancer: study of an invertebrate model. Scientific Reports, 10, 10106. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66813-0) (PMID:32572049) (PMCID:PMC7308315)

[img] Text
218767.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

1MB

Abstract

All multicellular organisms are exposed to a diversity of infectious agents and to the emergence and proliferation of malignant cells. The protection conferred by some infections against cancer has been recently linked to the production of acquired immunity effectors such as antibodies. However, the evolution of innate immunity as a mechanism to prevent cancer and how it is jeopardized by infections remain poorly investigated. Here, we explored this question by performing experimental infections in two genetically modified invertebrate models (Drosophila melanogaster) that develop invasive or non-invasive neoplastic brain tumors. After quantifying tumor size and antimicrobial peptide gene expression, we found that Drosophila larvae infected with a naturally occurring bacterium had smaller tumors compared to controls and to fungus-infected larvae. This was associated with the upregulation of genes encoding two antimicrobial peptides—diptericin and drosomycin—that are known to be important mediators of tumor cell death. We further confirmed that tumor regression upon infection was associated with an increase in tumor cell death. Thus, our study suggests that infection could have a protective role through the production of antimicrobial peptides that increase tumor cell death. Finally, our study highlights the need to understand the role of innate immune effectors in the complex interactions between infections and cancer cell communities in order to develop innovative cancer treatment strategies.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:JPP thanks Julia Cordero for support and the Core Services and Advanced Technologies at the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute (C596/A17196), with particular thanks to Beatson Advanced Imaging Resource. This work was supported by the ANR (Blanc project TRANSCAN to FT), by the CNRS (INEE), and by André HOFFMANN (Fondation MAVA). JPP was supported by Cancer Research UK core funding through the CRUK Beatson Institute (A17196).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Parvy, Dr Jean-Philippe
Authors: Jacqueline, C., Parvy, J.-P., Rollin, M.-L., Faugère, D., Renaud, F., Missé, D., Thomas, F., and Roche, B.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
Journal Name:Scientific Reports
Publisher:Nature Research
ISSN:2045-2322
ISSN (Online):2045-2322
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 The Authors
First Published:First published in Scientific Reports 10: 10106
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record