Gene expression of THP-1 macrophages co-cultured with F. nucleatum under iron-deficient and iron-overload conditions

Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) contributes to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) by inducing chronic inflammation. We found that iron deposition in macrophages is associated with poor prognosis of CRC patients with high amount of F. nucleatum. To explore the impact of iron on macrophage properties in the presence of F. nucleatum, we conducted RNA sequencing of THP-1 macrophages pretreated with ferric anmonium citrate (FAC) or deferoxamine (DFO), followed by treatment with F. nucleatum. Several chemokine genes were differentially increased in FAC-treated cells when compared with DFO-treated cells, suggesting that iron is required for the efficient induction of tumor-promoting chemokines in macrophages upon F. nucleatum infection. Our results suggest a prognostic role for iron in F. nucleatum-positive CRC. RNA sequenscing of THP-1 macrophages pretreated with ferric anmonium citrate (FAC) or deferoxamine (DFO), followed by treatment with Fusobacterium nucleatum