Autophagy of Intestinal Epithelial Cells Inhibits Colorectal Carcinogenesis Induced by Colibactin-Producing Escherichia coli in Apc Mice

Abstract

Infection of IECs and susceptible mice with CoPEC promotes autophagy, which is required to prevent colorectal tumorigenesis. Loss of ATG16L1 from IECs increases markers of inflammation, DNA damage, and cell proliferation and increases colorectal tumorigenesis in 11G5-infected Apc^Min/+ mice. These findings indicate the importance of autophagy in response to CoPEC infection, and strategies to induce autophagy might be developed for patients with CRC and CoPEC colonization.