trans-11 18:1 vaccenic acid (TVA) has a direct anti-carcinogenic effect on MCF-7 human mammary adenocarcinoma cells

• Published in: Nutrients 2014-02, Vol.6 (2), p.627-636
• Main Authors: Lim, Ji-Na, Oh, Jin-Ju, Wang, Tao, Lee, Jae-Sung, Kim, Sang-Hun, Kim, Yoon-Jin, Lee, Hong-Gu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Animal sciences; Anticarcinogenic Agents - pharmacology; Apoptosis - drug effects; apoptotic protein; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - genetics; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cancer; cancer cells; Carcinogens; Caspase 9 - genetics; Caspase 9 - metabolism; Cell growth; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; cis-9; Down-Regulation; Electronic mail systems; Epithelial Cells - drug effects; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Fatty acids; Female; Humans; MCF-7 Cells; Nutrients; Oils & fats; Oleic Acids - pharmacology; Penicillin; Proteins; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism; Short Communication; stearoyl CoA desaturase; Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase - genetics; Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase - metabolism; Trans fats; trans fatty acids; trans-11conjugated linoleic acid; Zoology
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu6020627

Trans vaccenic acid (TVA; trans-11 18:1) is a positional and geometric isomer of oleic acid and it is the predominant trans isomer found in ruminant fats. TVA can be converted into cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (c9, t11-CLA), a CLA isomer that has many beneficial effects, by stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) in the mammary gland. The health benefits associated with CLA are well documented, but it is unclear whether trans fatty acids (TFAs) from ruminant products have healthy effects. Therefore, the effects of TVA on the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma cells and MCF-10A human breast epithelial cells were investigated in the present study. Results showed that TVA inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells but not MCF-10A cells by down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 as well as procaspase-9. In addition, the suppressive effect of TVA was confirmed in SCD1-depleted MCF-7 cells. Our results suggested that TVA exerts a direct anti-carcinogenic effect on MCF-7 cells. These findings provided a better understanding of the research on the anti-carcinogenic effects of TVA and this may facilitate the manufacture of TVA/c9, t11-CLA fortified ruminant products.