Effects of different forms of Anthocyanins on growth inhibition and gene expression of CRC cells

Scope: Anthocyanins from diet were found to have therapeutic potential for various cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). Given the diverse forms of anthocyanins, it is unclear whether different types of anthocyanins share common pathways in regulating intestinal cell function. This study aims to investigate the core gene pathways modulated by anthocyanins in intestinal cells, and to identify potential compounds with similar therapeutic effects.Methods and results: Three different forms anthocyanins were used to treat CRC cells at different concentrations and time points, and growth inhibition was observed in all anthocyanins, with varying patterns. RNA-seq analysis showed that the regulatory-pathways of anthocyanins with different structures were different, and the time factor had a greater effect. Time-series analysis of regulatory-genes shared by different concentrations and structures of anthocyanins was performed. By overlapping with public PPAR target gene set, a core gene set across three types of anthocyanins was identified and used in Connectivity Map (CMap) analysis to screen for compounds. The repositioned drug candidates included known anti-cancer drugs that have effects of transcriptome interventions similar to anthocyanins.Conclusion: These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the anti-CRC effects of anthocyanins and may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic agents for CRC. To investigate the inhibitory effect of anthocyanins on the growth of colorectal cancer cells, we treated HT29 cell line with three different concentrations and durations of anthocyanins, and conducted CCK8 assay. To explore the regulatory role of anthocyanins on the whole-genome gene expression, we analyzed the gene expression profiles of HT29 cells treated with three different concentrations of anthocyanins at two time points using RNA-seq data. This research aims to uncover the potential shared molecular mechanisms by which anthocyanins exert their anti-colorectal cancer effects through the PPAR pathway.