A short-chain fatty acid, propionate, enhances the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin by modulating GPR41 signaling pathways in HepG2 cells

Abstract

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate are generated by microbial fermentation of indigestible fiber by gut flora. SCFAs are ligands of two orphan G protein-coupled receptors, GPR41 and GPR43, that modulate cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. However, it is unclear if SCFAs enhance the effects of chemotherapy in a GPR41- or GPR43-dependent manner. The aim of this study was to investigate whether SCFAs, and particularly propionate, activate GPR41 or GPR43, and thereby enhance the antitumor effects of cisplatin in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The inhibitory effects of propionate and cisplatin on proliferation of HCC cells were determined by MTS assay. Changes in apoptosis rate were analyzed by flow cytometry. The effects of combined propionate and cisplatin on these properties in HCC cells were significantly higher than those of cisplatin alone. With combined treatment, the levels of cleaved caspase-3, active caspase-3 forms, and acetylated histone H3 were enhanced in a GPR41-dependent manner; expression of histone deacetylases (HDAC) 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 proteins was significantly reduced; and induction of TNF-α expression was significantly enhanced. These results suggest that propionate and cisplatin synergistically and significantly induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells by increasing expression of autocrine TNF-α via reduction of HDACs through GPR41 signaling. From clinical and translational perspectives, our data suggest that a combination of propionate with cisplatin may have better therapeutic effects on HCC compared with conventional treatment, and that a selective GPR41 agonist may be a candidate as an adjuvant therapeutic agent for HCC.

AR420626, a selective agonist of GPR41/FFA3, suppresses growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by inducing apoptosis via HDAC inhibition

“…We previously showed that propionate, a physiological GPR41/FFA3 agonist, enhanced the cytotoxicity of cisplatin in HCC cells, and that cisplatin and propionate in combination significantly suppressed growth of HepG2 xenografts in comparison with cisplatin alone. 11 Similarly, AR420626, a selective GPR41/FFA3 agonist, significantly suppressed growth of HepG2 xenografts (p < 0.01) ( Figure 1). There was no significant difference in daily food intake or body weight changes between the control and AR groups (Supplementary Figure S1), and no deaths in either group.…”

Effect of high proportion concentrate dietary on Yak jejunal structure, physiological function and protein composition during cold season

“…The large concentrate intake could start-up enterocytes gluconeogenesis process, activated the tight junction signaling pathway, then regulated downstream related cell apoptosis pathways, which decreased the tight junction proteins expressions, such as Occluding, Claudin and Zo-1. Meanwhile, the proliferation of Regulatory T Cells to secrete many anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, CCL5), promoted the inflammatory response pathway (MAPK) related genes expression [24,25] . GPR41 was detected in the current study, and presented significantly up-regulated in concentrate-fed group, it showed that long-term high dietary concentrate feeding changed the normal jejunal metabolic pathways.…”

Orchestrated efforts on host network hijacking: Processes governing virus replication

“…Cell cycle arrest and DNA damage can trigger autophagy in response to cytoplasmic signals [152]. Lipids such as short-chain fatty acids (mostly propionate and butyrate) could induce autophagy [153] and/or apoptosis [154], as substantiated in colon cancer cells.…”