Antiproliferative Effects of Short-chain Fatty Acids on Human Colorectal Cancer Cells via Gene Expression Inhibition

Background/Aim: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) inhibit human colorectal cancer cell growth and tumorigenicity. We investigated the mechanism of the anti-proliferative effects of SCFAs on human colorectal cancer cells by examining their effects on gene expression. Materials and Methods: The DLD-1 cell line was cultured with different SCFAs. Gene groups whose expression levels decreased to <50% or increased >50% compared to untreated cells and the signalling pathways responsible for DLD-1 cell growth inhibition were identified and analyzed. Results: Genes whose expression levels decreased to <= 50% (791 genes) showed remarkable changes in gene function compared to genes whose expression levels increased >= 50%. These genes encode proteins involved in DNA replication and cell cycle/proliferation that contribute to major pathways responsible for suppression of colorectal carcinogenesis pathways. Conclusion: SCFAs inhibited the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in DNA replication and cell cycle/proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells and exerted antiproliferative activity via different pathways.