title: Omega 3 fatty acids increase spontaneous release of cytosolic components from tumor cells.
abstract: Mice fed menhaden (fish) oil or coconut oil-rich diets were inoculated intraperitoneally with a rapidly growing leukemia, T27A. After one week, the tumor cells were harvested, and 51Cr was used to label intracellular molecules. Spontaneous release of 51Cr was used as a measure of plasma membrane permeability. Compared to cells from mice fed coconut oil (rich in saturated fatty acids), tumor cells from mice fed menhaden oil (rich in long chain polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acids) showed an increased level of spontaneous 51Cr release, which was exacerbated by increased temperature and reduced by extracellular protein. At physiological salt concentrations, the released 51Cr was detected in particles of approximately 2700 daltons. Enhanced permeability correlated with the incorporation of dietary (fish oil) omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acid into the tumor cells. The results demonstrate that omega 3 fatty acids are incorporated into cellular constituents of tumor cells and change properties associated with the plasma membrane. This result suggests that dietary manipulation may be used to enhance tumor cell permeability and contribute to tumor eradication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, 46205.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Jenski
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Sturdevant
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Ehringer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stillwell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010938:Plant Oils; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010938:Plant Oils; C033266:Menhaden oil; D000074263:Coconut Oil