Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Chemotherapy-driven intestinal dysbiosis and indole-3-propionic acid rewire myelopoiesis to promote a metastasis-refractory state

Published inNature communications, vol. 17, no. 1, 832
Publication date2025-12-15
First online date2025-12-15
Abstract

The contribution of chemotherapy-induced tissue injury to individual susceptibility to metastasis remains largely unexplored. We report that chemotherapy indirectly prevents colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases by inducing a lasting systemic "chemomemory". Chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis alters nutrient availability, promoting the expansion of tryptophan-metabolizing bacteria and production of the microbial metabolite indole-3-propionic acid (IPA). IPA reprograms bone marrow myelopoiesis by redirecting common myeloid progenitor fate toward the macrophage lineage, limiting generation of immunosuppressive Ly6Chigh CCR2+ monocytes. This shift enhances CD4 + T cell antitumor function by promoting Th1 differentiation and spatially reorganizing CD8+ and CD4 + T cell interactions within the metastatic microenvironment. In a subset of CRC patients, circulating IPA levels increase after chemotherapy and inversely correlate with monocyte abundance, while high monocyte levels were associated with reduced survival. Our findings reveal that chemotherapy-induced intestinal injury normalizes pathological myelopoiesis through a microbiota-derived metabolite and identify IPA as a potential adjuvant to counteract monocyte-driven immunosuppression and metastasis.

Keywords
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Dysbiosis / chemically induced
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Indoles / metabolism
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Intestines / drug effects
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Myelopoiesis / drug effects
  • Propionates / metabolism
Citation (ISO format)
BERSIER, Ludivine et al. Chemotherapy-driven intestinal dysbiosis and indole-3-propionic acid rewire myelopoiesis to promote a metastasis-refractory state. In: Nature communications, 2025, vol. 17, n° 1, p. 832. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-67169-7
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Additional URL for this publicationhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-67169-7
Journal ISSN2041-1723
26views
15downloads

Technical informations

Creation19/12/2025 04:47:39
First validation03/02/2026 09:35:44
Update03/02/2026 09:35:44
Status update03/02/2026 09:35:44
Last indexation03/02/2026 09:35:45
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack