Facilitating Cytokine-Mediated Cancer Cell Death by Proteobacterial N-Acylhomoserine Lactones

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) preferentially induces apoptosis in cancer cells over normal cells; however, tumor cells may develop TRAIL resistance. Here, we demonstrate that this resistance can be overcome in the presence of bacterial acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) or AHL-producing bacteria through the combined effect of TRAIL-induced apoptosis and AHL-mediated inhibition of inflammation regulated by NF-κB signaling. This discovery unveils a previously unrecognized symbiotic link between bacteria and host immunosurveillance.