title: Short-chain fatty acids increase the level of calbindin-D9k messenger RNA in Caco-2 cells.
abstract: Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are indigestible oligosaccharides that increase the expression of calbindin-D9k and consequently increase calcium absorption by the colon in rats. The molecular mechanism of the increased expression of calbindin-D9k resulting from FOS ingestion has not been elucidated. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), namely, fermentation products of FOS by intestinal bacteria have been hypothesized as direct effectors of calbindin-D9k gene expression. To test this hypothesis, SCFAs were added to Caco-2 human intestinal epithelial cells, and changes in the levels of transcription of genes for calbindin-D9k, and transcription factors (vitamin D receptor: VDR, caudal homeobox-2: Cdx-2, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-α: HNF1-α) were determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Addition of sodium propionate or sodium butyrate to cell cultures increased levels of calbindin-D9k mRNA to 731% (p<0.05) and 321% (p<0.05), respectively. However, addition of these SCFAs did not affect the levels of mRNA VDR, Cdx-2, or HNF1-α. In conclusion, addition of SCFAs to cultured Caco-2 cells results in elevation of calbindin-D9k mRNA, consistent with the expected role of SCFAs as mediators of the increase of calcium absorption in rats that were fed with FOS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Nutrition, Kagawa Nutrition University, Sakado, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aizaki
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakuma
mesh_terms: D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D064026:Calbindins; D002118:Calcium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; C491270:CDX2 protein, human; D064026:Calbindins; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; C496487:HNF1A protein, human; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; C576506:S100G protein, human; C576508:S100g protein, rat; D014157:Transcription Factors; C579457:VDR protein, human; C116580:fructooligosaccharide; D002118:Calcium