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The immunomodulatory effects of Candida albicans isolated from the normal gastrointestinal microbiome of the elderly on colorectal cancer

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Abstract

The association of gut microbiota with occurrence and development of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been reported in recent studies. Probiotics have been shown to mediate anti-cancer effects through immune system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum and Candida albicans in the suppression of azoxymethane-induced CRC in male Fischer 344 rats. 30 adult male Fischer 344 rats were divided into 6 distinct groups (n = 5 per group): non-treated animals, fat-food intake group, fat-food and carcinogen intake group, CRC cancer-induced rats treated with the chemotherapy drug, CRC-induced rats treated with Lactobacillus plantarum, and CRC-induced rats treated with Candida albicans. Identification of Candida albicans isolated from human feces was performed by microbiological, biochemical, and PCR methods. The serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, TGF-β, and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. Pathological studies were performed through hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining method. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc analysis. Shrinking cancer cells with very dark nuclei were observed in CRC-induced rats treated with the chemotherapy drug, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Candida albicans indicating the occurrence of apoptosis. Serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, and TGF-β significantly decreased compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Lactobacillus plantarum and Candida albicans isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of the elderly and healthy individuals can efficiently improve CRC.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deparment of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science, Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

    Kimiya Shams & Mohaddeseh Larypoor

  2. Departmentof Immunology, Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Jafar Salimian

  3. Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch, Hakymiyeh-Babaee Highway, Tehran, Iran

    Mohaddeseh Larypoor

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  1. Kimiya Shams
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Correspondence to Mohaddeseh Larypoor.

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Shams, K., Larypoor, M. & Salimian, J. The immunomodulatory effects of Candida albicans isolated from the normal gastrointestinal microbiome of the elderly on colorectal cancer. Med Oncol 38, 140 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-021-01591-x

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