Fish oil constituent docosahexa-enoic acid selectively inhibits growth of human papillomavirus immortalized keratinocytes

The omega-3-fatty acids inhibit proliferation of breast cancer cells whereas omega-6-fatty acids stimulate growth. In this study, we examined effects of these fatty acids on human pre-cancerous cells. Cervical keratinocytes, immortalized with the oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16, were tr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Carcinogenesis (New York) 1999-02, Vol.20 (2), p.249-254
Main Authors: CHEN, D, AUBORN, K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens
Cell Division - drug effects
Cell Line, Transformed - drug effects
Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors - pharmacology
Docosahexaenoic Acids - pharmacology
Drug Combinations
Estradiol - pharmacology
Foods and miscellaneous
Humans
Indomethacin - pharmacology
Keratinocytes - cytology
Keratinocytes - drug effects
Keratinocytes - virology
Lipid Peroxidation
Medical sciences
Papilloma - pathology
Papilloma - virology
Papillomaviridae
Tumors
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Summary:The omega-3-fatty acids inhibit proliferation of breast cancer cells whereas omega-6-fatty acids stimulate growth. In this study, we examined effects of these fatty acids on human pre-cancerous cells. Cervical keratinocytes, immortalized with the oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16, were treated with linoleic acid, an omega-6-fatty acid, and the omega-3-fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. Using both cell counts and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, docosahexaenoic acid inhibited growth of these cells to a greater extent than eicosapenta-enoic acid. Linoleic acid had no effect. The effect of docosahexaenoic acid was dose dependent and caused growth arrest. Docosahexaenoic acid inhibited growth of HPV16 immortalized foreskin keratinocytes and laryngeal keratinocytes grown from explants of benign tumors caused by papillomavirus, but had no effect on normal foreskin and laryngeal keratinocytes. Docosahexaenoic acid inhibited growth in the presence of estradiol, a growth stimulator for these cells. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor like docosahexaenoic acid, had only minimal effect on growth. Alpha-tocopherol, a peroxidation inhibitor, abrogated effects of docosahexaenoic acid implying that inhibitory effects were via lipid peroxidation.
ISSN:0143-3334
1460-2180
1460-2180
DOI:10.1093/carcin/20.2.249