Positive Health Online

Abstract

YAO and COLLEAGUES,  (1)Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China; (2) Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China. (3)Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University,  Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China explored the  effects of DHA and EPA on the proliferation activity and apoptosis of the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549.

Background

ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), in particular the marine-derived forms eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been demonstrated to affect cancer cell replication, the cell cycle and cell death. Epidemiological studies have also suggested diets rich in n-3 PUFA were inversely correlated with the development of cancer.

Methodology

In the present study, the authors explored the effects of DHA and EPA on the proliferation activity and apoptosis of the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. A methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and morphological analysis was determined by fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. A549 cells were treated with different doses of DHA (40, 45, 50 and 55 µg/ml) or EPA (45, 50, 55 and 60 µg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 h.

Results

The results demonstrated that DHA and EPA significantly suppressed the proliferation of A549 cells and induced apoptosis of A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The apoptotic phenomenon was also confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, compared with the control, the formation of autophagosomes was clearly enhanced in DHA‑ or EPA-treated cells.

Conclusion

In conclusion, DHA and EPA inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells and induced cell apoptosis and autophagy, which may provide new safe and effective options for the treatment of lung cancer in the future.

References

Yao QH(1), Zhang XC(2), Fu T(3), Gu JZ(1), Wang L(3), Wang Y(3), Lai YB(3), Wang  YQ(3), Guo Y(1). ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit the proliferation of the lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 in vitro. Mol Med Rep. 9(2):401-6. Feb 2014. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2013.1829. Epub Nov 26 2013.

Comment

The above research demonstrated the significant suppression of the proliferation of lung cancer cells and their induced cell apoptosis by ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) - marine-derived EPA and DHA which may lead to new treatment options for lung cancer.