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Research: CHIU and WAN, D
Listed in Issue 65
Abstract
CHIU and WAN, Department of Zoology, The University of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, b100952@mailserv.cuhk.edu.hk investigated the effect of the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on the proliferation of human tumour cells in vitro.
Background
Dietary PUFAs have been reported as a potential group of natural products that modulate tumour cell growth.
Methodology
Results
In the present study, EPA was found to inhibit the proliferation of human leukaemic HL-60 and K-652 cells in vitro. EPA arrested cell cycle progression at G0/G1 phase and induced necrosis in both cell lines. However, EPA induced apoptosis only in HL-60, and not K-562, cells. EPA downregulated bcl-2 protein expression to a much greater extent than it did bax, indicating that depression of bcl-2 might be an important step during EPA-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells.
Conclusion
References
Chiu LC, Wan JM. Induction of apoptosis in HL-60 cells by eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is associated with downregulation of bcl-2 expression. Cancer Letters 145 (1-2): 17-27. Oct 1999.
Comment
These are very important molecular biology studies, which work out exactly how nutritional substances such as omega-3 essential fatty acids act to inhibit cancer or induce apoptosis (cell suicide).
