Metastasis accounts for most of cancer-related deaths. Paracrine signaling between tumor cells and the stroma induces changes in the tumor microenvironment required for metastasis. Transcription factor c-Myb was associated with breast cancer (BC) progression but its role in metastasis remains unclear. Here we show that increased c-Myb expression in BC cells inhibits spontaneous lung metastasis through impaired tumor cell extravasation. On contrary, BC cells with increased lung metastatic capacity exhibited low c-Myb levels. We identified a specific inflammatory signature, including Ccl2 chemokine, that was expressed in lung metastatic cells but was suppressed in tumor cells with higher c-Myb levels. 3
Milk oligosaccharides exert a prebiotic action that contributes to the development of the infant gut microbiota during lactation. Given that milk oligosaccharides remain intact after passage through stomach and small intestine, they can potentially influence the composition of the gut microbiota when ingested as dietary supplements after weaning. To address the regulatory effects of specific oligosaccharides in colitis linked to the microbiota composition, we have supplemented interleukin-10 null (
Il10
-/-
) mice with four fucosylated and sialylated oligosaccharides. We found that oral supplementation with 2-fucosyllactose significantly decreased the severity of colitis as displayed by reduced inflammatory marker expression, histological and diarrhea scores, an increased epithelial integrity and less pronounced colon shortening. Oral supplementation with 2-fucosyllactose led to a marked expansion of the commensal
Ruminococcus gnavus
, which was accompanied by an enhanced cecal concentration of propionate. Decreased activation of immune cells by
R. gnavus
was confirmed by reconstitution of antibiotic-treated
Il10
-/-
mice and by stimulation of dendritic cells
in vitro
. This study demonstrates that post-weaning administration of specific oligosaccharides can shift the composition of the gut microbiota to lessen chronic inflammation as observed in
Il10
-/-
mice. The expansion of
R. gnavus
sets a positive microbial environment at the cost of pro-inflammatory Gram-negative bacteria, thereby lowering intestinal inflammation.
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