Sodium butyrate is a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDAC). Sodium butyrate restores contextual memory in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. In a transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease, sodium butyrate ameliorates the neurodegenerative phenotype and extends survival. Sodium butyrate induces pancreatic progenitor formation, and directs the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into hepatocytes when used in combination with the cytokine Activin A. Sodium butyrate also augments transcription factor stimulated iPSC generation. In hepatocellular carcinoma cells, Sodium butyrate downregulates expression of c-Myc resulting in decreased hexokinase 2 levels, inhibition of aerobic glycolysis and reduced cell growth.
