Figure 2.

Influence of microbiota-processed nutrients on colon epithelium homeostasis. The importance of normal microbiota has been extensively studied, with a major impact on the protection against CRC. For instance, short-chain fatty acids are tumour suppressor metabolites produced by healthy typical microbiota that protects normal epithelium against neoplasia through an epigenetic mechanism. On the other hand, an excess of oncometabolites such as p-cresol, secondary bile acids or N-nitrosamines will favor mutagenesis and cancer development. SCFA: Short-chain fatty acids, HAT: Histone acetyltransferase, HDAC: Histone deacetylase.