Sodium butyrate-induced apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cell line via caspase ۹ protein

Background and Aim: Colon cancer is the fourth cause of cancer death in the world. Due to the role of genes involved in apoptosis and the epigenetic changes involved in progress of this disease, the aim of this study was investigation of the effect of sodium butyrate (NaBt) as a histone deacetylase inhibitor on caspase ۹ gene expression in human colorectal cancer cell line.Methods: HCT-۱۱۶ cell line was cultured in DMEM with ۱۰% fetal bovine serum. Cells were treated with various concentrations of NaBt (from ۶.۲۵mM to ۲۰۰mM) at ۲۴, ۴۸ and ۷۲ hours. Untreated cells were used as a control group. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. IC۵۰ was determined graphically. Then, Caspase۹ protein expression investigated by colorimetri kit.Results: the results of colorimetri showed that in IC۵۰ concentration of NaBt the expression of caspase۹ protein increased in comparison with the untreated cells at three times.Conclusion: Our results showed that NaBt can increase the expression of caspase ۹ protein via a concentration and time-dependent manner. It induces apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of cells ; So it can intended as the druge for cancer therapy but further studies are needed.

Keywords:

colorectal cancer , HCT-۱۱۶ cell line , sodium butyrate , histone deacetylase , caspase۹.