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. 2021 Oct 28;8:718093. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.718093

Table 2.

Short-chain fatty acids role in the recovery of impaired barrier function.

SCFAs Sample Effect/Implicated mechanisms References
In vitro
10 or 100 mM mixed SCFA
10 or 100 mM acetic, propionic or butyric acids
Ex vivo male Wistar rats
Cecum and colon
•Modulation contractile activity. (40)
Butyrate and propionate THP-1 cells •Inhibition of TNF-α (16)
Butyrate 2 mM [low]
Butyrate 8 mM [high]
Caco-2 cells •[Low] promotion of intestinal barrier function, increase TEER and decrease inulin permeability.
•[High] induce apoptosis, decrease cell viability.
(41)
Mixed SCFA: acetate –propionate –butyrate
80:40:20, 40:20:10, and 20:10:5 (mmol/l)
ex vivo colon Sprague-Dawley rats •TEER: increase by physiological SCFA mixture and individual SCFA (dose-dependent).
•Paracellular transport: dose-dependent reduced by mixed SCFA, acetate and propionate.
(42)
80 acetate, 40 propionate, and 20 butyrate (mmol/l) Caco-2 cells •TEER increase with acetate (40 and 80 mmol/l) and propionate (20 and 40 mmol/l).
80 acetate, 40 propionate, and 20 butyrate (mmol/l)Formate, lactate and succinate (50 mmol/l) T84 cells •Acetate + propionate: increase TEER dose/time-dependent manner.
•Butyrate and formate do not change TEER.
•Propionate, acetate and butyrate and lactate: TEER higher 30 min after (50 mmol/l).
•Succinate reduces TEER.
Butyrate 2 mM Caco-2 cells •Increase AMPK activity.
•Accelerated TJ assembly.
•Increase TEER.
(43)
Butyrate at 2, 5, or 8 mM
SB203580: p38 MAPK inhibitor
Caco-2 cells •2 mM: does not modify intestinal permeability.
•5- and 8-mM increase permeability.
•5 mM + SB203580 restore the permeability.
(44)
Butyrate, propionate, and acetate YAMC and Caco-2 cells •SCFA triggers Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-responsive genes.
•AhR plays an important role in GI health and in the gut inflammation by the induction of Tregs.
(45)
Acetate, propionate or butyrate with or without LPS •Caco-2 cells •Reduction NLRP3 inflammasome and autophagy.
•Decrease intestinal barrier disruption.
(46)
Main fecal SCFA (acetate, propionate
and butyrate)
ex vivo C57BL/6J mice •Microbial SCFA are modulated by the circadian rhythm.
SCFA affects colon contractility.
(47)
Propionic acid (PA) Intestinal epithelium cells (IEC-6) •Promotion of cell migration.
•Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome.
•Activation and improvement of intestinal barrier function.
•Suppression of TLR4/NF-κB pathway.
(48)
SCFA produced by E. coli Cancer cell lines: colon (HT-29), breast (MCF-7) and leukemia (THP-1) •Lower cytotoxicity activity.
•Decrease production of inflammatory cytokines.
(49)
In vivo
Sodium butyrate Wistar rat
IBS model (WAS)
•Dose-dependent inhibition of allodynia and colonic hyperpermeability. (50)
GG and PHGG DSS-induced colitis BALB/c mice •Improved clinical score.
•Up-regulation of colonic TJ.
•High fecal SCFA
(51)
Mixed SCFA: Sodium acetate (3 mM), Sodium propionate (1 mM), Sodium butyrate (1 mM) Sprague-Dawley rat
IBS model (WAS)
•SCFA alleviated colonic spontaneous motility
•Fecal SCFA reduction in WAS
•Up-regulate SCFA colonic receptors in WAS.
(52)
Acetate, propionate, and butyrate at 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 30 mM Neonatal BALB/c mice-IBS model rectal 1% acetic ac. •Dose-dependent reduction colonic transit rate. (53)

AhR, Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; AOS, Alginate oligosaccharide; CLDN, Claudin; DSS, Dextran Sulfate Sodium; GG, Guar gum; IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome; IL, Interleukin; LPS, Lipopolysaccharide; MUC, Mucin; NF-κB, Nuclear factor – kappa beta; NLRP3, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3; p-AMPKα, Phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase alpha; PHGG, Partially hydrolyzed GG; SCFA, short-chain fatty acid; TEER, Transepithelial electrical resistance; TJ, Tight junction; TLR, Toll-like receptor; TNF-α, Tumor necrosis factor alpha; Treg, Regulatory T lymphocyte; WAS, Water avoidance stress; YAMC, Young adult mouse colonic cells; ZO, Zonula occludens.