Secretory IgA dysfunction underlies poor prognosis in Fusobacterium-infected colorectal cancer

Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) is commonly enriched in colorectal cancer (CRC) and associated with poor outcomes, though its mechanisms remain unclear. Our study investigated how Fn affects the tumor microenvironment through single-cell transcriptomic analyses of 42 CRC patient tissues, comparing Fn-p...

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Main Authors: Ilseok Choi, Kyung-A Kim, Sang Cheol Kim, Donghwan Park, Ki Taek Nam, Jun Hyung Cha, Seungbyn Baek, Junha Cha, Hye-Yeong Jo, Minsun Jung, Melody Y. Zeng, Irina Matei, Susan Bullman, Joong Bae Ahn, Yoon Dae Han, Han Sang Kim, Insuk Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Gut Microbes
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2528428
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author Ilseok Choi
Kyung-A Kim
Sang Cheol Kim
Donghwan Park
Ki Taek Nam
Jun Hyung Cha
Seungbyn Baek
Junha Cha
Hye-Yeong Jo
Minsun Jung
Melody Y. Zeng
Irina Matei
Susan Bullman
Joong Bae Ahn
Yoon Dae Han
Han Sang Kim
Insuk Lee
author_facet Ilseok Choi
Kyung-A Kim
Sang Cheol Kim
Donghwan Park
Ki Taek Nam
Jun Hyung Cha
Seungbyn Baek
Junha Cha
Hye-Yeong Jo
Minsun Jung
Melody Y. Zeng
Irina Matei
Susan Bullman
Joong Bae Ahn
Yoon Dae Han
Han Sang Kim
Insuk Lee
author_sort Ilseok Choi
collection DOAJ
description Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) is commonly enriched in colorectal cancer (CRC) and associated with poor outcomes, though its mechanisms remain unclear. Our study investigated how Fn affects the tumor microenvironment through single-cell transcriptomic analyses of 42 CRC patient tissues, comparing Fn-positive and Fn-negative tumors. We discovered that Fn impairs IgA plasma cell development and secretory IgA (sIgA) production by disrupting communication with tumor-associated macrophages. Additional experiments in germ-free mice, together with our re-analysis of a publicly available single-cell RNA-seq data set from a CRC mouse model with an intact gut microbiome–both models having been orally gavaged with Fn–jointly validated the causal role of Fn in impairing sIgA induction. We identified a dysregulated IgA maturation (IGAM) module in Fn-positive patients, indicating compromised mucosal immunity and increased bacterial infiltration. This IGAM signature effectively stratified Fn-positive patients, suggesting potential for targeted therapeutic approaches. Our findings reveal that Fn disrupts sIgA production, increasing tumor microbial burden and worsening prognosis through chronic inflammation in Fn-positive CRC.
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spelling doaj-art-028c3d9fdb9543b394e5661fd86556642025-08-20T03:50:53ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGut Microbes1949-09761949-09842025-12-0117110.1080/19490976.2025.2528428Secretory IgA dysfunction underlies poor prognosis in Fusobacterium-infected colorectal cancerIlseok Choi0Kyung-A Kim1Sang Cheol Kim2Donghwan Park3Ki Taek Nam4Jun Hyung Cha5Seungbyn Baek6Junha Cha7Hye-Yeong Jo8Minsun Jung9Melody Y. Zeng10Irina Matei11Susan Bullman12Joong Bae Ahn13Yoon Dae Han14Han Sang Kim15Insuk Lee16Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaYonsei Cancer Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDivision of Healthcare and Artificial Intelligence, Department of Precision Medicine, National Institute of Health, Cheongju, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Korea 21 FOUR Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Korea 21 FOUR Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDivision of Healthcare and Artificial Intelligence, Department of Precision Medicine, National Institute of Health, Cheongju, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaChildren’s Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics, and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USAChildren’s Cancer and Blood Foundation Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics, and Cell and Developmental Biology, Drukier Institute for Children’s Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USAImmunology, James P. Allison Institute, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USAYonsei Cancer Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDivision of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaYonsei Cancer Center, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaFusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) is commonly enriched in colorectal cancer (CRC) and associated with poor outcomes, though its mechanisms remain unclear. Our study investigated how Fn affects the tumor microenvironment through single-cell transcriptomic analyses of 42 CRC patient tissues, comparing Fn-positive and Fn-negative tumors. We discovered that Fn impairs IgA plasma cell development and secretory IgA (sIgA) production by disrupting communication with tumor-associated macrophages. Additional experiments in germ-free mice, together with our re-analysis of a publicly available single-cell RNA-seq data set from a CRC mouse model with an intact gut microbiome–both models having been orally gavaged with Fn–jointly validated the causal role of Fn in impairing sIgA induction. We identified a dysregulated IgA maturation (IGAM) module in Fn-positive patients, indicating compromised mucosal immunity and increased bacterial infiltration. This IGAM signature effectively stratified Fn-positive patients, suggesting potential for targeted therapeutic approaches. Our findings reveal that Fn disrupts sIgA production, increasing tumor microbial burden and worsening prognosis through chronic inflammation in Fn-positive CRC.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2528428Colorectal cancerFusobacterium nucleatumsecretory IgAplasma cell developmenttumor bacterial burden
spellingShingle Ilseok Choi
Kyung-A Kim
Sang Cheol Kim
Donghwan Park
Ki Taek Nam
Jun Hyung Cha
Seungbyn Baek
Junha Cha
Hye-Yeong Jo
Minsun Jung
Melody Y. Zeng
Irina Matei
Susan Bullman
Joong Bae Ahn
Yoon Dae Han
Han Sang Kim
Insuk Lee
Secretory IgA dysfunction underlies poor prognosis in Fusobacterium-infected colorectal cancer
Gut Microbes
Colorectal cancer
Fusobacterium nucleatum
secretory IgA
plasma cell development
tumor bacterial burden
title Secretory IgA dysfunction underlies poor prognosis in Fusobacterium-infected colorectal cancer
title_full Secretory IgA dysfunction underlies poor prognosis in Fusobacterium-infected colorectal cancer
title_fullStr Secretory IgA dysfunction underlies poor prognosis in Fusobacterium-infected colorectal cancer
title_full_unstemmed Secretory IgA dysfunction underlies poor prognosis in Fusobacterium-infected colorectal cancer
title_short Secretory IgA dysfunction underlies poor prognosis in Fusobacterium-infected colorectal cancer
title_sort secretory iga dysfunction underlies poor prognosis in fusobacterium infected colorectal cancer
topic Colorectal cancer
Fusobacterium nucleatum
secretory IgA
plasma cell development
tumor bacterial burden
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19490976.2025.2528428
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