The deubiquitinase USP25 supports colonic inflammation and bacterial infection and promotes colorectal cancer.

Bacterial infection or abnormal colonization in the gastrointestinal system is associated with subsets of inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. Here we demonstrated essential roles of ubiquitin-specific protease 25 (USP25) in experimental colitis, bacterial infections and colon cancer. Knockout or pharmacologic inhibition of USP25 potentiated immune responses after induction of experimental colitis or bacterial infections that promoted clearance of infected bacteria and resolution of inflammation and attenuated Wnt and SOCS3-pSTAT3 signaling, which inhibited colonic tumorigenesis. USP25 levels were positively or negatively correlated with Fusobacterium nucleatum colonization and β-catenin levels or SOCS3 levels in human colorectal tumor biopsies, respectively, and predicted poor prognosis of patients with cancers in the gastrointestinal system. Our findings suggest USP25 as a promoter and druggable target for gastrointestinal infections and cancers.