Tributyrin, an oral butyrate analogue, induces apoptosis through the activation of caspase-3.

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Clarke KO, Feinman R, Harrison LE

Tributyrin, an oral butyrate analogue, induces apoptosis through the activation of caspase-3.

Cancer Lett. 2001 Sep 28;171(1):57-65. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(01)00574-2.

PubMed ID

11485828 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of the butyrate analogues, tributyrin (TB) and phenylbutyrate (PB), in a colon cancer model. We demonstrate that HT-29 colon cancer cells exposed to PB and TB result in growth inhibition associated with an induction of apoptosis mediated through the activation of caspase-3 activity. A block in the G1/S cell cycle traverse associated with a decrease in CDK2 (cyclin dependent kinase) protein levels and retinoblastoma protein hypophosphorylation was also noted after PB and TB exposure. Importantly, TB proved to be the most potent agent in its ability to induce these phenotypic changes, and potentially may represent a novel therapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Tributyrin	Caspase-3	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Activator	Details