PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Butyrate and the intestinal epithelium: Modulation of proliferation and inflammation in homeostasis and disease

Cells, ISSN: 2073-4409, Vol: 10, Issue: 7
2021
  • 217
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 241
    Captures
  • 2
    Mentions
  • 33
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    217
  • Captures
    241
  • Mentions
    2
    • Blog Mentions
      1
      • Blog
        1
    • References
      1
      • Wikipedia
        1
  • Social Media
    33
    • Shares, Likes & Comments
      33
      • Facebook
        33

Review Description

The microbial metabolite butyrate serves as a link between the intestinal microbiome and epithelium. The monocarboxylate transporters MCT1 and SMCT1 are the predominant means of butyrate transport from the intestinal lumen to epithelial cytoplasm, where the molecule undergoes rapid β-oxidation to generate cellular fuel. However, not all epithelial cells metabolize butyrate equally. Undifferentiated colonocytes, including neoplastic cells and intestinal stem cells at the epithelial crypt base preferentially utilize glucose over butyrate for cellular fuel. This divergent metabolic conditioning is central to the phenomenon known as “butyrate paradox”, in which butyrate induces contradictory effects on epithelial proliferation in undifferentiated and differentiated colonocytes. There is evidence that accumulation of butyrate in epithelial cells results in histone modification and altered transcriptional activation that halts cell cycle progression. This manifests in the apparent protective effect of butyrate against colonic neoplasia. A corollary to this process is butyrate-induced inhibition of intestinal stem cells. Yet, emerging research has illustrated that the evolution of the crypt, along with butyrate-producing bacteria in the intestine, serve to protect crypt base stem cells from butyrate’s anti-proliferative effects. Butyrate also regulates epithelial inflammation and tolerance to antigens, through production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and induction of tolerogenic dendritic cells. The role of butyrate in the pathogenesis and treatment of intestinal neoplasia, inflammatory bowel disease and malabsorptive states is evolving, and holds promise for the potential translation of butyrate’s cellular function into clinical therapies.

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know