IRF3 prevents colorectal tumorigenesis via inhibiting the nuclear translocation of β-catenin

Nat Commun. 2020 Nov 13;11(1):5762. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19627-7.

Abstract

Occurrence of Colorectal cancer (CRC) is relevant with gut microbiota. However, role of IRF3, a key signaling mediator in innate immune sensing, has been barely investigated in CRC. Here, we unexpectedly found that the IRF3 deficient mice are hyper-susceptible to the development of intestinal tumor in AOM/DSS and Apcmin/+ models. Genetic ablation of IRF3 profoundly promotes the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells via aberrantly activating Wnt signaling. Mechanically, IRF3 in resting state robustly associates with the active β-catenin in the cytoplasm, thus preventing its nuclear translocation and cell proliferation, which can be relieved upon microbe-induced activation of IRF3. In accordance, the survival of CRC is clinically correlated with the expression level of IRF3. Therefore, our study identifies IRF3 as a negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and a potential prognosis marker for Wnt-related tumorigenesis, and describes an intriguing link between gut microbiota and CRC via the IRF3-β-catenin axis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism*
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Enterocytes / metabolism
  • Enterocytes / pathology
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / metabolism*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Domains
  • Protein Transport
  • Survival Analysis
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway
  • beta Catenin / chemistry
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • IRF3 protein, human
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3
  • Irf3 protein, mouse
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • beta Catenin