title: Regulation of the expression of E-cadherin on human cancer cells by gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).
abstract: E-cadherin is a cell to cell adhesion molecule which acts as a suppressor of metastasis. This study examined the effect of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, on the expression of E-cadherin in human cancer cells. Western blotting studies demonstrated that treatment of cells with GLA for 24 h increased the expression of E-cadherin in lung, colon, breast, melanoma, and liver cancer cells, but not in endothelial cells and fibroblasts. The results were confirmed by immunocytochemistry. In contrast, two other n-6 fatty acids, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, failed to induce these changes. The increased expression of E-cadherin was correlated with reduced in vitro invasion and increased aggregation, indicating that the increased E-cadherin expression induced by GLA was biologically active. These data add GLA to the short list of E-cadherin up-regulatory factors. The up-regulation of E-cadherin expression in human cancer cells may contribute to the anticancer properties of GLA.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hiscox
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hallett
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Horrobin
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mansel
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Puntis
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015820:Cadherins; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid