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Sodium Butyrate Selectively Kills Cancer Cells and Inhibits Migration in Colorectal Cancer by Targeting Thioredoxin-1

Wenqi Wang1,2, Daoquan Fang3, Hao Zhang1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, People's Republic of China.

Oncotargets and Therapy
|June 18, 2020
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Sodium butyrate (NaB) inhibits colorectal cancer (CRC) growth by decreasing thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) expression. Downregulating Trx-1 enhances NaB's anti-tumor effects, indicating Trx-1's crucial role in NaB's efficacy against CRC.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Sodium butyrate (NaB), a short-chain fatty acid from dietary fiber fermentation, exhibits anti-tumor properties in various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC).
  • The precise mechanism by which NaB exerts its anti-tumor effects, particularly the involvement of thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1), remains incompletely understood in CRC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) in the anti-tumor effects of sodium butyrate (NaB) on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying NaB-induced growth inhibition, apoptosis, and migration in CRC.

Main Methods:

  • Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays were used to assess cell viability and proliferation.
  • Flow cytometry and Transwell assays evaluated apoptosis and cell migration, respectively.
  • Western blotting, reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement, and in vivo xenograft models were employed to analyze Trx-1 expression, ROS levels, and tumor growth.

Main Results:

  • NaB significantly inhibited CRC cell growth, induced apoptosis, and suppressed migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  • NaB treatment led to decreased Trx-1 protein expression and increased ROS levels in CRC cells.
  • Downregulation of Trx-1 potentiated NaB's anti-tumor effects, while Trx-1 overexpression attenuated them.

Conclusions:

  • The anti-tumor effects of NaB in colorectal cancer are significantly associated with the downregulation of thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1).
  • Targeting Trx-1 may represent a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of NaB as an anti-cancer therapeutic for CRC.
Keywords:
anti-tumor effectscolorectal cancershort-chain fatty acidsodium butyratethioredoxin-1

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