Microbiota-derived bile acids antagonize the host androgen receptor and drive anti-tumor immunity.

TitleMicrobiota-derived bile acids antagonize the host androgen receptor and drive anti-tumor immunity.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2025
AuthorsJin W-B, Xiao L, Jeong M, Han S-J, Zhang W, Yano H, Shi H, Arifuzzaman M, Lyu M, Wang D, Tang YAngelina, Qiao S, Yang X, Yang HS, Fu J, Sonnenberg GF, Collins N, Artis D, Guo C-J
Corporate AuthorsJRI IBD Live Cell Bank Consortium
JournalCell
Volume188
Issue9
Pagination2336-2353.e38
Date Published2025 May 01
ISSN1097-4172
KeywordsAndrogen Receptor Antagonists, Animals, Bile Acids and Salts, Cell Line, Tumor, Humans, Male, Metabolomics, Mice, Microbiota, Neoplasms, Receptors, Androgen
Abstract

Microbiota-derived bile acids (BAs) are associated with host biology/disease, yet their causal effects remain largely undefined. Herein, we speculate that characterizing previously undefined microbiota-derived BAs would uncover previously unknown BA-sensing receptors and their biological functions. We integrated BA metabolomics and microbial genetics to functionally profile >200 putative microbiota BA metabolic genes. We identified 56 less-characterized BAs, many of which are detected in humans/mammals. Notably, a subset of these BAs are potent antagonists of the human androgen receptor (hAR). They inhibit AR-related gene expression and are human-relevant. As a proof-of-principle, we demonstrate that one of these BAs suppresses tumor progression and potentiates the efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment in an AR-dependent manner. Our findings show that an approach combining bioinformatics, BA metabolomics, and microbial genetics can expand our knowledge of the microbiota metabolic potential and reveal an unexpected microbiota BA-AR interaction and its role in regulating host biology.

DOI10.1016/j.cell.2025.02.029
Alternate JournalCell
PubMed ID40239649
PubMed Central IDPMC12439225
Grant ListK99 AI180354 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI095466 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
DP2 HD101401 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
K99 DK138295 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK132244 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
K99 AI173660 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R00 CA252443 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AT013241 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI172027 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
U01 AI095608 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA274534 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK135816 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 AR070116 / AR / NIAMS NIH HHS / United States
K99 CA290052 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK126871 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI182043 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI178683 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI151599 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States