Helminth-induced Prostaglandin Signaling and Dietary Shifts in PUFA Metabolism Promote Colitis-associated Cancer

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in the Journal of Lipid Research has made new findings in colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. The research, conducted at Cardiff University, has revealed that helminth-induced prostaglandin signaling and dietary shifts in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism can promote colitis-associated cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that infection with the helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri (Hpb) exacerbates tumor formation when combined with a high o-6:o-3 PUFA ratio diet.
  • The researchers discovered that dietary increases in tumor burden correlated with heightened levels of arachidonic acid (AA) and AA-derived lipoxygenase (LOX) oxylipins in the colon, including the 12/15-LOX product 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid.
  • The study also found that inhibition of cyclooxygenase-dependent prostaglandin production with aspirin prevented helminth-exacerbation of disease.
  • The researchers noted that helminth-infected mice exhibited increased phosphorylation of β-catenin in the colon, which was inhibited by EP2 and 4 antagonists.
  • The study suggests that dietary changes in fatty acid composition coordinate with helminth-induced activation of EP signaling to exacerbate tumor development.

Statistics:

  • The study found that helminth-infected mice exhibited increased tumor burden, which was prevented by inhibition of cyclooxygenase-dependent prostaglandin production with aspirin.
  • The researchers discovered that the levels of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, a product of the 12/15-LOX enzyme, were increased in the colons of helminth-exacerbated disease.
  • The study found that inhibition of EP2 and 4 signaling pathways prevented the exacerbation of disease caused by helminth infection.

Sources:

  • Helminth-induced prostaglandin signaling and dietary shifts in PUFA metabolism promote colitis-associated cancer. Journal of Lipid Research, 2025, 66(7):100837. The publisher for Journal of Lipid Research is Elsevier. A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlr.2025.100837.
  • Cardiff University: News Release, July 22, 2025.
  • Cardiff University. School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
  • Earlier research has independently linked a high dietary omega-6:omega-3 PUFA ratio, or intestinal helminth infection, to an increased risk of colitis-associated colorectal cancer. However, whether these two factors interact to exacerbate disease risk and whether oxylipins contribute to this is unknown.