Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Bandar Saujana Putra, Shah Alam, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Mahsa University, Bandar Saujana Putra, Shah Alam, Malaysia
  • 6 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
PLoS One, 2017;12(8):e0183097.
PMID: 28859095 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183097

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide and the number is increasing every year. Despite advances in screening programs, CRC remains as the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the molecular mechanisms of colorectal cancer (CRC) and has been shown to be associated with Blastocystis sp., a common intestinal microorganism. In the present study, we aimed to identify a role for Blastocystis sp. in exacerbating carcinogenesis using in vivo rat model. Methylene blue staining was used to identify colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and adenomas formation in infected rats whilst elevation of oxidative stress biomarker levels in the urine and serum samples were evaluated using biochemical assays. Histological changes of the intestinal mucosa were observed and a significant number of ACF was found in Blastocystis sp. infected AOM-rats compared to the AOM-controls. High levels of urinary oxidative indices including advanced oxidative protein products (AOPP) and hydrogen peroxide were observed in Blastocystis sp. infected AOM-rats compared to the uninfected AOM-rats. Our study provides evidence that Blastocystis sp. has a significant role in enhancing AOM-induced carcinogenesis by resulting damage to the intestinal epithelium and promoting oxidative damage in Blastocystis sp. infected rats.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.