title: Eicosapentaenoic acid attenuates vascular endothelial growth factor-induced proliferation via inhibiting Flk-1 receptor expression in bovine carotid artery endothelial cells.
abstract: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5, n-3) can restrain tumor growth and metastasis in vivo; however, the mechanism of its antitumor effect is still not fully understood. Angiogenesis is a crucial process for tumor growth and metastasis and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis can suppress tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important angiogenic factor. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of EPA on VEGF-induced proliferation of bovine carotid artery endothelial (BAE) cells. BAE cells, treated with 0-5 microg/ml EPA for 48 h, displayed a dose-dependent suppression to VEGF (0.2 nM)-induced proliferation. Similar inhibitory effect was not found in BAE cells treated with arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4, n-6), or docasahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:5, n-3). In contrast to its effect on VEGF-induced proliferation, EPA had no inhibition to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, 0.2 nM)-induced proliferation in BAE cells. Both VEGF and bFGF activated mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in BAE cells; however, EPA selectively inhibited VEGF-induced, but not bFGF-induced activation of MAP kinase. Flk-1 expression was inhibited dose-dependently in EPA-treated cells, whereas Flt-1 expression was increased in EPA treated cells. This in vitro inhibitory effect by EPA on Flk-1 receptor expression provides indirect evidence that one of the mechanisms of EPA for antitumor action in vivo maybe related to its antiangiogenic action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Chemistry, Postgraduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Murota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000166:cytology; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases