The effects of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the expression of nm-23 in human cancer cells

Br J Cancer. 1998 Mar;77(5):731-8. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1998.120.

Abstract

This study examined the effect of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the expression of nm-23, a metastasis-suppressor gene, in two highly invasive human cancer cell lines, HT115 and MDA MB 231. A range of n-6 and n-3 PUFAs were tested. We report that while linoleic acid and arachidonic acid reduced the expression of nm-23-H1, gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and its soluble lithium salt markedly increased the expression of the molecules. The stimulation of the expression of nm-23 by GLA was seen at both protein and mRNA levels. Up-regulation of nm-23 was also associated with a reduction of the in vitro invasiveness of these cells. It is concluded that gamma linolenic acid (GLA) enhances the expression of nm-23. This contributes to the inhibition of the in vitro invasion of tumour cells.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arachidonic Acid / pharmacology
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Linoleic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins*
  • NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase*
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Neoplasm / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • gamma-Linolenic Acid / pharmacology*

Substances

  • NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • Transcription Factors
  • Arachidonic Acid
  • gamma-Linolenic Acid
  • Linoleic Acid
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid
  • Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins