Tributyrin in Inflammation: Does White Adipose Tissue Affect Colorectal Cancer?

Luana Amorim Biondo,Tiego A Diniz,Loreana S Silveira,Alexandre Abilio S Teixeira,Francielle C Mosele,José Cesar Rosa Neto,Camila O Souza,Raquel G F Costa

doi:10.3390/nu11010110

Luana Amorim Biondo, Tiego A Diniz + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010110

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Abstract

Colorectal cancer affects the large intestine, leading to loss of white adipose tissue (WAT) and alterations in adipokine secretion. Lower incidence of colorectal cancer is associated with increased fibre intake. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are fibres that increase production of butyrate by the intestinal microbiota. Tributyrin, a prodrug of butyric acid, exerts beneficial anti-inflammatory effects on colorectal cancer. Our aim was to characterise the effects of diets rich in FOS and tributyrin within the context of a colon carcinogenesis model, and characterise possible support of tumorigenesis by WAT. C57/BL6 male mice were divided into four groups: a control group (CT) fed with chow diet and three colon carcinogenesis-induced groups fed either with chow diet (CA), tributyrin-supplemented diet (BUT), or with FOS-supplemented diet. Colon carcinogenesis decreased adipose mass in subcutaneous, epididymal, and retroperitoneal tissues, while also reducing serum glucose and leptin concentrations. However, it did not alter the concentrations of adiponectin, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-α in WAT. Additionally, the supplements did not revert the colon cancer affected parameters. The BUT group exhibited even higher glucose tolerance and levels of IL-6, VEGF, and TNF-α in WAT. To conclude our study, FOS and butyrate supplements were not beneficial. In addition, butyrate worsened adipose tissue inflammation.

Highlights

Colorectal cancer is a common cancer associated with the occidental lifestyle, characterised by high caloric consumption and low physical activity [1]
body weight (BW) gains were reduced in the FOS group, compared to the control group, and in the BUT group, BW was decreased in relation to all of the other experimental groups (Figure 2B)
0.001 (c), During glucose intolerance analysis, the tributyrin-supplemented group showed reduced glycaemia at the 0, 15, 60, and 90 min time points. These results suggest that butyrate promoted glucose tolerance (Figure 5A)

Summary

Introduction

Colorectal cancer is a common cancer associated with the occidental lifestyle, characterised by high caloric consumption and low physical activity [1]. Epidemiological data has shown an inverse association between total dietary fibre content and colon cancer risk [4], demonstrating that high fibre intake was associated with a lower risk of colon cancer [5]; the type of fibre that is ingested is important [6]. In this sense, fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are linear short chains of fructose found in a wide range of natural foods, such as yacòn, garlic, bananas, wheat, etc. These SCFAs reduce luminal pH and can inhibit the growth and activity of pathogenic bacteria, potentially improving the host’s health [8]

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