On February 4, 2025, Associate Professor JIN Xin from the College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, published groundbreaking research in the internationally renowned journal Gut. The paper titled "Dysbiotic oral microbiota-derived kynurenine, induced by chronic restraint stress, promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by enhancing CD8+ T cell exhaustion" uncovers significant insights into the relationship between chronic stress, oral microbiota, and cancer development.
In this study, Prof. Jin's team used a mouse model treated with 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) and conducted experiments involving the transplantation of oral microbiota into germ-free mice. By performing 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry on saliva, fecal, and plasma samples from the mice, they analyzed changes in microbiota and metabolites.
The research reveals the complex interactions between oral microbiota, metabolic products, and the immune system, deepening our understanding of how chronic stress contributes to cancer. It also suggests new avenues for treating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Moreover, it indicates that cancer treatments may need to consider the patient's psychological state and changes in their microbiome for more precise and personalized therapies.
Full Article Link:
https://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2025/02/04/gutjnl-2024-333479?rss=1
(Translated by AI)
