Bacteria found to protect against skin cancer
Anna Kerman, XX2 century, based on the materials of MNT: Common skin bacteria may prevent skin cancer
The authors of a new study published in the publication Science Advances, discovered a bacterial strain capable of protecting against skin cancer (Nakatsuji et al., A commensal strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis protects against skin neoplasia). The work was carried out on the basis of the University of California, San Diego (University of California, San Diego).
The head of the Department of Dermatology at the University, Dr. Richard Gallo and his colleagues analyzed the metabolic products of bacteria found on human skin and found that one of these bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis, synthesizes a substance that protects against the development and formation of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the world. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (American Academy of Dermatology), one in five people manage to get sick with one form of skin cancer during their lifetime. The risk will increase if you sunbathe a lot, spending time in the sun or in a solarium.
As part of the new study, scientists irradiated mice with ultraviolet light, on whose skin S.epidermidis bacteria were present. These microorganisms produced a chemical compound called 6-N-hydroxyaminopurine (6-N-hydroxyaminopurine, 6-HAP), a substance that suppresses DNA synthesis. Due to this property of 6-N-hydroxyaminopurine, it is able to prevent the spread of modified cancer cells.
For the experiment, the scientists used two groups of model animals. Mice from both groups were exposed to carcinogenic ultraviolet rays – however, rodents from the first group had S.epidermidis bacteria on their skin that produced 6-N-hydroxyaminopurine. These bacteria were also present on the skin of animals from the second group, but they were modified in such a way that they could not synthesize a useful compound.
In addition, mice from the first group received an injection of 6-N-hydroxyaminopurine every 48 hours for 2 weeks. All animals were also implanted with melanoma cells, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
Mice treated with 6-N-hydroxyaminopurin had a 50% reduction in tumor size compared to animals from the control group deprived of the protective properties of 6-HAP.
It is important that no toxic effects were registered in the experimental group.
Summing up the work, Dr. Gallo says: "We have identified a strain of S.epidermidis often found on healthy human skin. This strain is distinguished by its selective ability to suppress the growth of certain types of malignant tumors. The bacteria found produce a chemical compound that kills several types of cancer cells, but apparently is not toxic to normal cells."
But the scientist emphasizes that further research is needed to better understand the synthesis of 6-N-hydroxyaminopurine and to find out whether this compound can reduce the risk of skin cancer in humans.
"A strain of S.epidermidis producing 6-HAP," the authors add, "was found in samples obtained from a number of healthy volunteers. This suggests that the microbiota of some people's skin is able to provide protection against skin cancer."
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