Gut–liver translocation of pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae promotes hepatocellular carcinoma in mice

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is accompanied by an altered gut microbiota but whether the latter contributes to carcinogenesis is unclear. Here we show that faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) using stool samples from patients with HCC spontaneously initiate liver inflammation, fibrosis and dysplasia in wild-type mice, and accelerate disease progression in a mouse model of HCC. We find that HCC-FMT results in gut barrier injury and translocation of live bacteria to the liver. Metagenomic analyses and bacterial culture of liver tissues reveal enrichment of the gut pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae in patients with HCC and mice transplanted with the HCC microbiota. Moreover, K. pneumoniae monocolonization…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 82173191, C4039-19GF
• CU
  Chinese University of Hong Kong
• NS
  National Science and Technology Major Project
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China-Yunnan Joint Fund

  Award: 82173191
• BA
  Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province

  Awards: 2019B151502009, 2022B1515120031