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Intestinal stem cell genes may link dietary fat and colon cancer

Study suggests tie between stem cell behavior and a high fat diet

Date:
November 25, 2019
Source:
Rutgers University
Summary:
两个基因似乎帮助干细胞testine burn dietary fat may play a role in colon cancer, according to a new study. The study describes a new connection between the way cells consume fat and how genes regulate stem cell behavior in the intestines of mice.
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两个基因似乎帮助干细胞testine burn dietary fat may play a role in colon cancer, according to a Rutgers study.

The study, published in the journalGastroenterology, describes a new connection between the way cells consume fat and how genes regulate stem cell behavior in the intestines of mice.

"This is important because scientists have shown that when there's too much dietary fat in the intestine, stem cell numbers increase, boosting susceptibility to colon cancer," said senior author Michael Verzi, an associate professor in the Department of Genetics in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. Verzi is also a research member in the Genomic Instability and Cancer Genetics Research Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

People naturally lose millions of intestinal cells daily, much like they lose skin cells. Intestinal stem cells undergo constant renewal and fuel the continuous turnover of the lining of the intestine, but altered stem cell functions can lead to colon cancer.

Colorectal cancer (of the colon or rectum) is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. An estimated 101,420 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Recent studies have shown that intestinal stem cells can increase in animals on a high fat "Western" diet, potentially explaining an elevated cancer risk from such a diet.

The Rutgers team recently discovered that two genes (HNF4A and HNF4G) work together to promote the proper function of the intestinal lining. In the new study, they found that mice lost intestinal stem cells when these genes were inactivated, confirming their importance. Rutgers scientists believe that the genes help stem cells burn fat, providing them energy.

Going forward, the researchers hope to further investigate whether the two genes alter stem cell numbers and cancer risk during a high fat diet, said Verzi, who is also a member of the Rutgers Center for Lipid Research.

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Materialsprovided byRutgers University.注意:内容可能被编辑风格d length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Lei Chen, Roshan P. Vasoya, Natalie H. Toke, Aditya Parthasarathy, Shirley Luo, Eric Chiles, Juan Flores, Nan Gao, Edward M. Bonder, Xiaoyang Su, Michael P. Verzi.HNF4 Regulates Fatty Acid Oxidation and is Required for Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells in Mice.Gastroenterology, 2019; DOI:10.1053/j.gastro.2019.11.031

Cite This Page:

Rutgers University. "Intestinal stem cell genes may link dietary fat and colon cancer: Study suggests tie between stem cell behavior and a high fat diet." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 November 2019. .
Rutgers University. (2019, November 25). Intestinal stem cell genes may link dietary fat and colon cancer: Study suggests tie between stem cell behavior and a high fat diet.ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 10, 2023 from www.koonmotors.com/releases/2019/11/191125100356.htm
Rutgers University. "Intestinal stem cell genes may link dietary fat and colon cancer: Study suggests tie between stem cell behavior and a high fat diet." ScienceDaily. www.koonmotors.com/releases/2019/11/191125100356.htm (accessed July 10, 2023).

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