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PubMed1997

Histological changes in the colonic mucosa following irrigation with short-chain fatty acids.

OBJECTIVES: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) derived from bacterial fermentation of complex carbohydrates are preferred luminal nutrients of the colonic mucosa. Starvation of colonocytes through lack or impaired metabolism of luminal SCFAs may be a cofactor in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. DESIGN: A detailed histological evaluation of colonic biopsy specimens was performed in patients with active distal ulcerative colitis who were treated with rectal enemas containing a mixture of SCFAs, n-butyrate alone or saline placebo. Together with light microscopic parameters of mucosal inflammation, the pattern of crypt cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and the mucosal activity of factor XIII were assessed. RESULTS: Butyrate reduced the density of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the lamina propria (4 weeks: P = 0.063; 8 weeks: P = 0.091); other inflammatory parameters remained unchanged. Both butyrate and the SCFA mixture reduced significantly the number of proliferating cells in the upper 40% of crypts. Tissue factor XIII activity in active ulcerative colitis was significantly lower than in mucosa from normal colons; however, it was not affected by SCFA or butyrate irrigation. CONCLUSION: SCFAs and butyrate have a more marked effect on crypt cell proliferation than on parameters of inflammation in patients with active ulcerative colitis.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Alterations in intestinal microflora, faecal bile acids and short chain fatty acids in dextran sulphate sodium-induced experimental acute colitis in rats.

BACKGROUND: The physiological effects on faecal bile acids and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) or intestinal microflora in dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis remain unknown and are an area of interest DESIGN ALTERATIONS: of these parameters in DSS-induced colitis in rats were evaluated. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 10) were given a 3% DSS aqueous solution orally for 7 days. The concentrations of bile acids and SCFAs in the faeces were measured using gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Intestinal microflora, especially anaerobes, were investigated by microbiological methods. RESULTS: On day 7, the concentrations of lithocholic acid and alpha-muricholic acid were significantly decreased and that of cholic acid was significantly increased. There was a strong correlation between the concentration of cholic acid and the macroscopic area of damaged tissue in the colon (R = 0.74, P < 0.05). With respect to SCFAs, DSS administration significantly decreased the concentrations of acetic acid and n-butyric acid. There was also some correlation between the concentration of acetic acid and macroscopic damaged area in the colon (R = -0.60, P = 0.07). Bacteriological studies revealed significantly decreased eubacteria, bifidobacteria and total anaerobes after the administration of DSS. In contrast, lactobacilli were significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: With the progression of DSS-induced colitis, faecal bile acids, SCFAs and intestinal microflora were altered. It is possible that these alterations contribute in part to the progression of DSS-induced colitis.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1989

Absorption of dissociated and undissociated short-chain fatty acids across the colonic epithelium of guinea-pig.

Diffusion potentials for Na+, Cl-, acetate (Ac-), propionate (Pr-) and butyrate (Bu-) across the isolated epithelium of the proximal and the distal colon of guinea-pig were measured with flowing electrodes in Ussing chambers. Permeabilities of the anions are expressed in relation to the permeability of sodium. Unidirectional fluxes of Na+ and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were estimated. Fluxes of SCFA anions and of undissociated SCFAs were calculated from relative permeabilities and flux values. In the proximal colon of guinea-pig 50% of SCFAs were transported in the dissociated and 50% in the undissociated form; transport rates of the three SCFAs were similar. In the distal colon SCFA transport was based primarily on diffusion of the free acids; the ratios of fluxes were: HAc/Ac- = 2.4; HPr/Pr- = 6.9; HBu/Bu- = 9.3, and transport rates increased with chain length of the SCFA.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Transport of sodium across the isolated bovine rumen epithelium: interaction with short-chain fatty acids, chloride and bicarbonate.

Unidirectional transport rates of sodium (22Na+) and chloride (36Cl-) across bovine rumen epithelium were measured in vitro by the Ussing chamber technique. The active and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-stimulated sodium transport was shown to fit Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and was rate limited mainly by one transport system, characterized by a Km of 43 mmol l-1 Na+ and a Jmax (maximal transport rate) of 6.2 mumol cm-2 h-1 Na+. It was confirmed that the basolateral Na+,K(+)-ATPase was essential for active sodium transport, and that an apical amiloride-sensitive sodium transport system (Na(+)-H+ exchange) was involved in a minimum of 60-70% of the active sodium transport in the presence of SCFAs (butyrate). The main part of both the mucosal-serosal (MS) and serosal-mucosal (SM) sodium flux was sensitive to an applied electrical potential difference (PD). It is noteworthy that an applied PD, equal to the in vivo PD (+30 mV, lumen as reference), abolished net transport of sodium. The stimulating effect of a mixture of acetate, propionate and butyrate on active sodium transport was confirmed, and it was further shown that the stimulating effect of each of the three SCFAs was nearly equal. Analogues of naturally occurring SCFAs (isobutyrate and 2-ethyl-butyrate) did not stimulate active sodium transport, but inhibited the stimulating effect of butyrate. The stimulating effect of butyrate was clearly concentration dependent and showed a maximum at approximately 20 mmol l-1 butyrate. Above this limit active sodium transport was decreased with increasing butyrate concentration. This suggests that there was a limit to the amount of butyrate that could be handled by the epithelium. The active sodium transport was clearly correlated with the chloride concentration, and was significantly reduced, but not abolished, by replacement of chloride with gluconate. Active transport of chloride was stimulated by butyrate and reduced by the Na(+)-H+ exchange inhibitor amiloride (3 mmol l-1). There was no effect of the Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange inhibitor DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid; 0.5 mmol l-1) on sodium transport. HCO3- (13 mmol l-1) and CO2 (5%) themselves had only a small and non-significant stimulating effect on sodium fluxes, however, in the presence, but not the absence of HCO3- and CO2 in the experimental solutions acetazolamide (1 mmol l-1) significantly reduced active sodium transport. It is concluded that SCFAs could stimulate the active sodium and chloride transport as a result of their metabolism. The CO2 produced could stimulate apical Na(+)-H+ and Cl(-)-HCO3- exchangers running in parallel via increased H+ and HCO3- gradients.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Kinetic studies on colonocyte metabolism of short chain fatty acids and glucose in ulcerative colitis.

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are potentially valuable as a topical therapy for distal ulcerative colitis. The mechanism of action is unknown but may involve improved intracellular energy production as previous evidence indicates that colonocyte oxidation of butyrate is impaired in ulcerative colitis. No information is, however, available on human mucosal metabolism of acetate and propionate in either health or disease or the Vmax and Km values of butyrate oxidation. The aim of the study was to assess the kinetic parameters, Vmax and Km, of the complete oxidation of short chain fatty acids and glucose by human colonocytes and to explore whether a metabolic abnormality could be confirmed in patients with ulcerative colitis. Colonocytes were isolated from surgical specimens obtained from 14 patients with ulcerative colitis and eight control subjects. Incubations were performed in the presence of a concentration range of 14C-labelled acetate, propionate butyrate, and glucose. Oxidation rates were obtained by quantifying the production of 14CO2. Vmax and Km were calculated by computer fitting of the data to a Michaelis-Menten plot. No significant differences were shown in either Vmax or Km values of any of the SCFAs or glucose comparing controls and patients with ulcerative colitis. Comparing the results obtained regarding the individual SCFAs, the most striking difference was the considerably lower Km value of butyrate. The apparent Vmax of acetate tended to be higher than Vmax of propionate and butyrate. Vmax of glucose oxidation was significantly lower compared with the Vmax values of SCFA oxidation. The study shows the ability of isolated human colonocytes to utilise each of the three major SCFAs, but does not support a pathogenic role for defective metabolism of butyrate in ulcerative colitis. The considerably lower Km of butyrate oxidation supports a specific role of butyrate as an energy source for the colonic mucosa in both health and ulcerative colitis.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Inhibition of epithelial chloride secretion by butyrate: role of reduced adenylyl cyclase expression and activity.

Butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are found at high concentrations in the colonic lumen and affect multiple epithelial cell functions. To better understand how SCFAs regulate ion transport, we investigated the effects of SCFAs on Cl(-) secretion in human colonic epithelial cell line T(84). Butyrate inhibited Cl(-) secretory responses to prostaglandin E(2), forskolin, and cholera toxin. Other SCFAs were less effective or inactive. Reduced secretion was associated with decreased synthesis of the second messenger cAMP rather than increased degradation. Expression and activity of adenylyl cyclase were decreased by butyrate, whereas phosphodiesterase activity was unaffected and phosphodiesterase inhibition did not reverse the effects of butyrate on Cl(-) secretion. Furthermore, butyrate decreased expression of the basolateral Na-K-2Cl cotransporter, indicating that it might modulate the secretory capacity of the cells. However, butyrate did not affect secretory responses to the calcium-dependent secretagogue carbachol, cAMP analogs, or uroguanylin, indicating that normal secretory responses to adequate levels of second messengers in butyrate-treated T(84) cells are possible. These results show that butyrate affects several aspects of epithelial Cl(-) secretion, including second messenger generation and expression of key ion transporters. However, these effects may not all be equally important in determining Cl(-) secretion in response to physiologically relevant secretagogues.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

PubMed1994

Stimulation of bicarbonate secretion by luminal short-chain fatty acid in the rat and human colon in vitro.

Acetic, propionic and butyric acids constitute the predominant luminal anions in the colon. Several in vivo studies have suggested that these short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) induce HCO3- accumulation in the colonic lumen. The purpose of this study was to delineate the mechanism underlying the SCFA-induced HCO3- accumulation in chamber-mounted mucosae from the rat and human colon under short-circuit conditions. HCO3- transport from the serosa bathed with a HCO3(-)-containing solution to the lumen bathed with a HCO3- (and Cl-)-free solution was evaluated from the luminal alkalization rate (JOHSL) by using a pH-stat system. In the rat distal colon, luminal propionate (25 mM) enhanced JOHSL from 0.32 +/- 0.19 to 3.18 +/- 0.22 mumol/cm2/h (n = 5, means +/- SE). Luminal acetate and butyrate (25 mM) similarly enhanced JOHSL. The magnitude of the increase in JOHSL induced by SCFA did not significantly vary among these three SCFAs. On the other hand, luminal lactate (25 mM) failed to affect JOHSL. The SCFA-induced increase in JOHSL was greatly reduced to approximately 30% of the original level when HCO3- was removed from the serosal solution. The short-circuit current and the transepithelial conductance were barely altered by luminal SCFAs or lactate. In the human colon, luminal propionate (25 mM) also caused an increase in JOHSL from 0.54 +/- 0.36 to 1.57 +/- 0.62 mumol/cm2/h (n = 4), which was significantly attenuated by removing serosal HCO3-. These results demonstrate that luminal SCFAs stimulate HCO3- secretion in the colon.

Acetates↗

PubMed1999

Short-chain fatty acid metabolism, apoptosis, and Apc-initiated tumorigenesis in the mouse gastrointestinal mucosa.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are physiological regulators of growth and differentiation in the gastrointestinal tract, and we have previously shown that apoptosis induced in colonic cell lines by these compounds is dependent on their metabolism by B-oxidation in the mitochondria (B. G. Heerdt et al., J. Biol. Chem., 266: 19120-19126, 1991; Cancer Res., 54: 3288-3293, 1994). Because tumors initiated by an inherited Apc mutation have been reported to be linked to decreases in apoptosis in the flat mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, the aims were to determine whether elimination of efficient metabolism of SCFAs affected apoptosis in the gastrointestinal mucosa of the mouse, and whether this altered tumorigenesis initiated by an inherited Apc mutation. We, therefore, generated mice that have a chain-terminating mutation in the Apc gene and that were either wild-type for SCFA metabolism, or deficient, due to homozygous deletion of the gene (Scad) that encodes the enzyme short-chain acyl dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the first step in SCFA B-oxidation. Scad+/+ mice maintained on a wheat bran-fiber-supplemented diet gained significantly more weight than mice maintained on AIN76A, but this was eliminated by the Scad mutation, demonstrating that uptake and metabolism of SCFAs in the gastrointestinal tract can be a significant energy source. As predicted, on either AIN76A or wheat bran diet, the Scad mutation almost completely eliminated apoptosis in the flat mucosa of the proximal colon and reduced apoptosis by 50% in the distal colon compared with littermates that were wild-type for Scad. The mutation also reduced apoptosis by approximately 50% in the duodenum in AIN76A-fed mice. These reductions in apoptosis had no effect on incidence, frequency, or site specificity of tumors initiated by the Apc mutation. Therefore, the metabolism of SCFAs by the gastrointestinal mucosa plays a role in modulating apoptosis, but a general decrease in apoptosis in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract is not linked to gastrointestinal tumorigenesis initiated by an inherited Apc mutation.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Short-term oral administration of a product derived from a probiotic, Clostridium butyricum induced no pathological effects in rats.

Recent studies have suggested that short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) exert a therapeutic effect on some human and experimental animal diseases. In a previous study, we showed that Clostridium butyricum produces high levels of SCFAs in the culture system used. In addition, an additive based on yogurt was effective in eliminating and masking the odor derived from SCFAs in the product. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects for oral administration of the product, which was derived from Clostridium butyricum and contains a high level of SCFAs, in rats. Male and female Wistar Hannover GALAS rats, 5 weeks old, were allowed a mixture of the standard diet plus the product derived from Clostridium butyricum (50% w/w) with 0.1% additive for 17 days (n=6). The control rats were also allowed a standard diet plus tap water (50% w/w) with 0.1% additive (n=6). After 17 days, a laparotomy was performed. A hemocyte count, and biochemical and electrolyte analyses were subsequently carried out. The esophagus, stomach, small intestine, cecum and large intestine were investigated macroscopically and microscopically. Results showed that the rats grew normally for the duration of the experimental period. In particular, the body weights of the product-fed male rats were significantly increased as compared to those of the control-fed male rats. There were no significant differences in the organic weight between the product-fed and control-fed rats, except for a significantly increased weight of the small intestine in the product-fed female rats. No pathological abnormalities were found in the hemocyte count, the biochemical and electrolyte analyses, or the macroscopic and microscopic findings. It is possible that this novel product with the additive exerts therapeutic effects on some gastrointestinal disorders.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Recent developments in short-chain fatty acid metabolism.

Bacterial translocation across the bowel wall has recently been proposed as a major problem in the stressed patient. Consequently, there has been considerable interest in fostering bowel wall integrity as a barrier to bacteria and endotoxin. One postulated means to promote this barrier function has been through the provision of the preferred fuels of the bowel wall. Among these are the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) which are found to a limited extent in the diet but are primarily produced through the fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates by the bacterial flora of the colon. In both animal and human studies, SCFAs have been shown to stimulate intestinal mucosal growth. Because non-digestible carbohydrates, after colonic fermentation, are precursors to SCFAs, similar effects to those found with direct provision of SCFAs may be anticipated. Pectin, beta-glucan, and lactulose are among the many available nonabsorbable carbohydrates that could serve as a source of these trophic stimulants to colonic mucosa. Short-chain fatty acids and their precursors deserve extensive and clinical evaluation to define their ultimate role in human disease.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Short chain fatty acids as metabolic regulators of ion absorption in the colon.

Between 50%-80% of sodium absorption in the colonic mucosa is dependent upon CO2 generation from SCFAs derived from the colonic lumen. Lumenal starvation leading to diminished SCFAs levels in the colon greatly reduce the absorptive capacity of the colonic mucosa. Mechanisms whereby SCFAs regulate sodium absorption in the colon include 1) an enzyme induced adaptive regulation of SCFA-oxidation in colonocytes, 2) a flexible CO2 supply from SCFA depending upon stimulation or suppression of fatty acid oxidation., 3) the variable sidedness of Na(+)-H+ and Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange pumps in colonic epithelial cells, and 4) colonic epithelial cell membrane synthesis from SCFAs. Precise details of these regulatory mechanisms need to be elucidated by further experimental investigation.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Short-chain fatty acids and bowel functions in man.

The fecal excretion of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (measured by gas chromatography), transit time (assayed by radiopaque plastic markers), fecal weight, intake of dietary fiber, and their relationship have been studied in 10 healthy subjects during 1 week. The subjects had a fiber intake (mean +/- SD) of 26.3 +/- 7.9 g/day, a fecal weight of 160 +/- 49 g/day, and an average transit time of 41 +/- 9 h and excreted 11.1 +/- 5.5 mmol of SCFAs/day, with a concentration of 66.7 +/- 28.0 mmol/kg feces. The mean amount of SCFAs, but not their concentration, correlated to mean fecal weight (p less than 0.01) and mean transit time (p less than 0.01). The mean fecal weight correlated to mean transit time (p less than 0.05). The mean intake of dietary fiber did not correlate to any of the other variables. The results of this study indicate that other substrates are more important than fiber for the bacterial formation of SCFAs in the colon. The SCFAs formed most likely do not exert any direct laxative effect.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Brucellar spondylitis is associated with disturbance in gut microbiota and histamine metabolism associated inflammation.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of brucellar spondylitis (BLS) has traditionally been considered to be primarily limited to local osteoarticular lesions. With the proposal of the "gut-spine axis" concept, the role of intestinal microecological dysbiosis in inflammatory spinal diseases has attracted in an increase of attention. The overactivated inflammatory cytokine network not only mediates bone destruction and intervertebral disc damage, but also forms a bidirectional interaction with gut microbiota dysbiosis through the "gut-spine axis," collectively driving disease progression. However, the inflammatory mechanism by which gut microbiota participates in the pathological process of BLS remains largely unclear. METHODS: This study recruited 20 BLS patients and 20 healthy donors. Multi-omics analysis including metagenomics, untargeted metabolomics, and targeted short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) analysis, were used to compare the structural differences in gut microbiota between the two groups and screen for signature differential bacterial species. Plasma levels of histamine and histidine decarboxylase were measured by ELISA to clarify the role of differential histidine metabolic pathway in the disease. Additionally, plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, TNF-α) were detected by ELISA. The correlation between gut microbiota and inflammatory indicators was further analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to the healthy control group, the α-diversity of the gut microbiota in BLS patients was significantly reduced, with the microbial community structure exhibiting increased homogeneity. Beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences, suggesting that disease progression is associated with an overall imbalance in the gut microbiota and the deterioration of its specific structural composition. At the phylum level, the abundances of Actinomycetota, unclassified_d_Viruses, and Fusobacteriota were significantly increased in the gut microbiota of BLS patients compared to the control group, while the abundances of Bacillota and Pseudomonadota were significantly decreased. Further analysis revealed that, compared to the control group, the generic abundance of Enterococcus was significantly increased, while the proportions of Blautia, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Agathobacter, Roseburia, Clostridium, Eubacterium, Alistipes and Anaerobutyricum were significantly decreased. At the species level, the abundances of Enterococcus sp and Enterococcus-faecium were increased, whereas Blautia sp, Ruminococcus sp, Faecalibacterium sp, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Agathobacter rectalis, Eubacterium sp, Agathobacter sp, and Roseburia sp were decreased. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomics revealed that metabolites were enriched in the histidine metabolic pathway, and the levels of SCFAs including butyrate, isobutyrate, valerate, and 4-methylvalerate in the intestinal contents were reduced in BLS. Functional KEGG profiling revealed that key KOs involved in butyrate synthesis (e.g., K00074, K00172, K01640) and transport were globally downregulated in the patient group, whereas histidine decarboxylase KOs (K01693, K11755, K19787) that convert histidine to pro-inflammatory histamine were significantly enriched. The loss of butyrate-producing symbionts led to SCFAs deficiency and mucosal barrier disruption, creating ecological niches for facultatively anaerobic Enterococcus, which further exacerbated local inflammation via proteolytic fermentation and histamine production. Compared with the control group, BLS patients showed decreased plasma levels of IL-10, while levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, and TNF-α were increased, and LPS levels were elevated. In addition, significantly elevated plasma pro-inflammatory LPS levels in patients with BLS suggest disruption of intestinal integrity and permeability. Correlation analysis indicated a close relationship between gut microbiota and inflammation. CONCLUSION: BLS is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and alterations in microbial metabolites, which may be linked to inflammatory responses and histamine metabolism. The differential microbial taxa identified in this study could be developed into a stool-based non-invasive diagnostic panel to facilitate early differentiation of BLS from other spinal disorders. Furthermore, restoring gut microbial balance through probiotic supplementation or dietary modulation may represent a promising adjunctive strategy to enhance the efficacy of standard antibiotic therapy and reduce disease recurrence.

Humans↗

PubMed1992

Effects of short-chain fatty acids on growth and differentiation of the human colon-cancer cell line HT29.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), namely butyrate, acetate and propionate, originate from the bacterial fermentation of dietary fibers and are the predominant anions present in the large bowel. Our study was carried out to investigate the effects of SCFAs on growth of the human adenocarcinoma cell line, HT29. The results show that, under our culture conditions, both propionate and butyrate inhibit growth of HT29 cells, whereas acetate has no significant effect. The antiproliferative effect of propionate or butyrate is associated with an inhibition of FCS-induced activation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key enzyme of polyamine metabolism. Inhibition of growth induced by either propionate or butyrate is not reversed by the addition of putrescine, which reveals that these SCFAs are not acting solely on the ODC/polyamine system. Our data show that propionate and butyrate, unlike acetate, induce an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, which reflects a more differentiated phenotype than that of untreated control cells. Taken together, our results suggest that propionate, like butyrate, may play an important role in the physiology of the colon and could partially account for the protective effect of dietary fibers with respect to colon carcinogenesis.

Acetates↗

PubMed1992

Modulation of gene expression as a biomarker in colon.

Computer-driven scanning and image processing methodology has demonstrated that genetic inheritance of risk for colorectal cancer in familial polyposis (FAP) and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families is associated with highly pleiotropic effects on patterns of gene expression in the flat colonic mucosa. The mitochondrial (mt) gene encoding subunit 3 of cytochrome oxidase (COXIII) is one of a panel of cloned sequences which characterize genetic risk. Expression of COXIII decreased in progression of, and risk for, colonic tumors in vivo. Further, metabolizable, unbranched, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) elevated expression of mtCOXIII, as well as mtCOXI, in HT29 cells and also elevated mtCOX enzymatic activity. However, expression of nuclear encoded COX subunits were unaffected. These changes may be related to documented alterations in mitochondria structure and function in transformed colonic epithelial cells. SCFAs produced when colonic microflora causes fermentation of fiber are the principle energy source for normal colonic epithelial cells; SCFAs also induce a more differentiated phenotype both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, a mechanistic link may exist between molecular events in inherited risk and a dietary factor (fiber) which may modulate such risk. In a preliminary intervention trial in collaboration with M. Lipkin, high risk HNPCC patients received daily supplements of 1500 mg CaCO3 per day, which may be protective for development of colorectal tumors. Elevations in COXIII expression were seen in 7 of 12 patients within the first 7 months, followed by complex changes in expression of this sequence.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗

PubMed1997

Comparison of the effect of different short chain fatty acids on the growth and differentiation of human colonic carcinoma cell lines in vitro.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of acetate, propionate, butyrate, iso-butyrate, valerate, iso-valerate and caproate on cell growth and on the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV (DPP IV) by three human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines. In addition to butyrate, propionate and valerate inhibited cell proliferation of the three cell lines. The other SCFAs did not influence cell proliferation. AP and DPP IV activities were strongly stimulated by butyrate on two of the three cell lines. On HT-29, AP was strongly stimulated, however DPPIV expression remained undetectable. Propionate and valerate exhibited a weaker stimulation, the other SCFAs being ineffective. The effect of SCFAs on cell proliferation and differentiation clearly depends on the number of carbons and on the configuration of the basic structure of the molecule.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed1995

Fecal short chain fatty acids in South African urban Africans and whites.

UNLABELLED: Diminished levels for fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been linked to occurrence of ulcerative colitis, colorectal polyps, and colon cancer, diseases that are rare or uncommon in African populations. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine fecal SCFA concentrations and fecal pH values in groups of black South Africans (African) and white South Africans (white) subjects. METHODS: Twenty healthy Africans (all women; mean age, 35 years) and 17 healthy whites (7 women; 10 men; mean age, 32 years) were tested. RESULTS: Mean total concentrations of SCFAs in the two groups were 142.1 (+/- 53.9) and 69.2 (+/- 26.0) mmol/kg wet feces, respectively (P = 0.0001). Mean values for Africans were significantly higher in all subfractions except butyrate. There was a significant inverse correlation between fecal pH value and total fecal SCFA concentration (r = 0.704; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: High concentrations of fecal SCFAs in the African group could protect against chronic bowel diseases.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Segmental differences in short-chain fatty acid transport in rabbit colon: effect of pH and Na.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the predominant luminal anion in the mammalian colon. Although they are rapidly absorbed in vivo, little is known about the mechanisms of transepithelial transport in vitro. Previous studies have suggested that SCFA transport may be linked to Na absorption or an anion exchange mechanism. We compared the transport of propionate under short-circuit conditions in rabbit proximal and distal colon to determine whether there were segmental differences, how SCFAs may be linked to either Na absorption or anion transport, and whether SCFAs, as weak electrolytes, may be affected by transepithelial pH gradients. In distal colon, propionate transport was not significantly altered by stimulation of electrogenic Na absorption, epinephrine or Cl removal. However, a modest transepithelial pH gradient (luminal 6.8/serosal 7.4) stimulated propionate absorption. In proximal colon, propionate transport was significantly altered by maneuvers that either stimulated (lowered [Na] in the bathing media) or inhibited (theophylline) apical Na-H exchange. Neither Cl removal, nor the anion exchange inhibitor DIDS, nor a transepithelial bicarbonate gradient, altered propionate transport. A transepithelial pH gradient inhibited propionate secretion, but not in a manner entirely consistent with the effect of pH on the distribution of a weak electrolyte. These results suggest that there is significant segmental heterogeneity in colonic SCFA transport; that transepithelial propionate fluxes are altered by changes in pH or electroneutral Na absorption (Na-H exchange), but not by chloride removal, bicarbonate gradients or electrogenic Na absorption. Regulation of SCFA transport may be an important factor in the physiology of colonic fluid balance.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗