title: The role of prostaglandins in the inhibition of cultured carcinoma cell growth produced by gamma-linolenic acid.
abstract: The growth of the cultured human breast carcinoma cell line NUB 1 as well as that of other cultured malignant cells has been shown to be inhibited by addition of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) to the culture medium. It has previously been suggested that these findings may be attributed to correction of a GLA deficiency in malignant cells, with supplementation of this fatty acid leading to increased prostaglandin (PG) production and consequent growth inhibition. To test this hypothesis the effect of 50 micrograms/ml concentrations of GLA and its sequential metabolite dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) and cell growth, morphology and prostaglandin (PGE and PGF) production by NUB 1 cells was investigated. GLA increased PGE and PGF production, inhibited cell growth and caused accumulation of lipid containing cytoplasmic granules. While treatment with DGLA increased PG production to a significantly greater extent than GLA administration it had no apparent effect on cell growth of morphology and did not inhibit cell growth. These findings suggest that some action other than the ability to increase PG production may be responsible for the inhibitory effects produced by GLA in malignant cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Natal, Congella, South Africa.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Botha
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramchurren
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Norman
mesh_terms: D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002460:Cell Line; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000502:physiology*; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000032:analysis; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000032:analysis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid