Phenylbutyrate / GSH Cancer Research Results

PB, Phenylbutyrate: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Used to treat urea cycle disorders
Sodium phenylbutyrate helps remove ammonia from the body.
-Phenyl-butyrate (PB)4 is an aromatic fatty acid that is converted in vivo to phenylacetate (PA) by β-oxidation in liver and kidney mitochondria.
-In human body, phenylbutyrate is oxidized to phenylacetate, which is in turn conjugated with glutamine and eliminated in urine as phenylacetylglutamine, thereby mediating elimination of waste nitrogen
-Phenylbutyrate is one of the first drugs encountered in cancer therapy as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI) (relatively weak compared to vorinostat (SAHA), romidepsin, etc.).
-Butyric acid is one of the short-chain fatty acids produced by the gut microbiota through the fermentation of dietary fiber. Butyrate is primarily recognized for its beneficial effects in the colon and is tightly linked to gut health.
-Phenylbutyrate is a derivative of butyrate that has been chemically modified by the addition of a phenyl group. This structural change increases its lipophilicity (fat solubility) and alters its metabolic fate and biological activity. This allows it to be used as a systemic drug, in contrast to the locally produced butyrate in the gut, which is rapidly metabolized by colonocytes

Pathways:
-Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor
-ER stress inhibitor (at least in normal cell)
-Can act as a chemical chaperone, helping to reduce ER stress by facilitating proper protein folding.
-Modulation of NF-κB Signaling
-Changes in pathways such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK.
-Some preclinical investigations have reported that treatment with phenylbutyrate leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, both of which can result in an increase of ROS within cancer cells.

Note: Sodium butyrate (NaBu) vs Sodium phenylbutyrate
-Sodium butyrate is primarily a research tool with limited clinical application, whereas phenylbutyrate is used clinically
-Phenylbutyrate typically exhibits improved pharmacokinetics and is more amenable to systemic use compared to sodium butyrate.
-Both compounds act as HDAC inhibitors, phenylbutyrate additionally modulates ER stress and mitochondrial function, leading to potentially greater ROS production in certain cancer cells.

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Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Context Normal Tissue Context TSF Primary Effect Notes
1 Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition Histone acetylation ↑; p21 ↑; differentiation ↑; proliferation ↓ Gene-expression modulation R, G Epigenetic reprogramming Core anticancer mechanism; early-generation, relatively weak HDAC inhibitor.
2 Cell-cycle arrest G1 arrest ↑; Cyclin D1 ↓ (reported) G Cytostasis Common downstream effect of HDAC inhibition.
3 Apoptosis Caspase activation ↑ (reported; model-dependent) G Cell death execution Often secondary to transcriptional changes and stress modulation.
4 ER stress / Chemical chaperone activity Context-dependent: ER stress ↑ or ↓ ER stress ↓ (protein misfolding disorders) R, G Protein-folding modulation Acts as chemical chaperone; effect depends on cell type and dose.
5 NF-κB signaling NF-κB modulation (reported) Inflammatory tone modulation R, G Transcriptional regulation Likely secondary to epigenetic changes.
6 PI3K → AKT / MAPK pathways Survival pathway modulation (reported; model-dependent) R, G Growth signaling modulation Downstream transcriptional effects rather than primary kinase inhibition.
7 Mitochondrial stress / ROS ROS modulation (context-dependent) P, R, G Metabolic adaptation Not a primary ROS-inducing agent; effects vary by tumor model.
8 Urea-cycle nitrogen scavenging (approved indication) Ammonia elimination ↑ (phenylacetylglutamine formation) Clinical metabolic role Primary approved medical use.


GSH, Glutathione: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
Glutathione (GSH) is a thiol antioxidant that scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in the formation of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Decreased amounts of GSH and a decreased GSH/GSSG ratio in tissues are biomarkers of oxidative stress.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant found in every cell of the body, composed of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamine, and glycine. It plays a crucial role in protecting cells from oxidative stress, detoxifying harmful substances, and supporting the immune system.
cancer cells can have elevated levels of glutathione, which may help them survive in the oxidative environment created by the immune response and chemotherapy. This can make cancer cells more resistant to treatment.
While glutathione can be obtained from certain foods (like fruits, vegetables, and meats), its absorption from supplements is debated. Some people take N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or other precursors to boost glutathione levels, but the effects on cancer prevention or treatment are still being studied.
Depleting glutathione (GSH) to raise reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a strategy that has been explored in cancer research and therapy.
Many cancer cells have altered redox states and may rely on GSH to survive. Increasing ROS levels can induce stress in these cells, potentially leading to cell death.
Certain drugs and compounds can deplete GSH levels. For example, agents like buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) inhibit the synthesis of GSH, leading to its depletion.
Cancer cells tend to exhibit higher levels of intracellular GSH, possibly as an adaptive response to a higher metabolism and thus higher steady-state levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

"...intracellular glutathione (GSH) exhibits an astounding antioxidant activity in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS)..."
"Cancer cells have a high level of GSH compared to normal cells."
"...cancer cells are affluent with high antioxidant levels, especially with GSH, whose appearance at an elevated concentration of ∼10 mM (10 times less in normal cells) detoxifies the cancer cells." "Therefore, GSH depletion can be assumed to be the key strategy to amplify the oxidative stress in cancer cells, enhancing the destruction of cancer cells by fruitful cancer therapy."

The loss of GSH is broadly known to be directly related to the apoptosis progression.


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
2035- PB,    Sodium Phenylbutyrate Controls Neuroinflammatory and Antioxidant Activities and Protects Dopaminergic Neurons in Mouse Models of Parkinson’s Disease
- in-vitro, Nor, glial - in-vivo, NA, NA
*ROS↓, *Inflam↑, *P21↓, *antiOx↑, *GSH↑, *NF-kB↓, *neuroP↑, *HDAC↓, *iNOS↓, *TNF-α↓, *IL1β↓, *LDL↓, ROS↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 1 of 1

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 1

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

ROS↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 1

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

antiOx↑, 1,   GSH↑, 1,   ROS↓, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

LDL↓, 1,  

Cell Death

iNOS↓, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence

P21↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State

HDAC↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling

IL1β↓, 1,   Inflam↑, 1,   NF-kB↓, 1,   TNF-α↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes

neuroP↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 12

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: GSH, Glutathione
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:15  Target#:137  State#:%  Dir#:%
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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