title: Effects of fatty acids on the growth of Caco-2 cells.
abstract: Epidemiological studies suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids may protect against colorectal neoplasia. In order to explore this observation, cell proliferation and viability, lipid composition, membrane fluidity, and lipid peroxidation were measured in Caco-2 cells after 48h incubation with various fatty acids. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids incorporated less well in the membranes than polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). All of the PUFAs tested had an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation/viability whereas the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids did not. Addition of palmitic acid had no significant effect on membrane fluidity whereas unsaturated fatty acids increased membrane fluidity in a dose-dependent manner. PUFAs strongly increased tumor cell lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids increased lipid peroxidation in this cell line only at high concentration. Preincubation of Caco-2 cells with vitamin E prevented the inhibition of proliferation/viability, the elevation of the MDA concentration and the increased membrane fluidity induced by PUFAs. Our data indicate that PUFAs are potent inhibitors of the growth of colon cancer cells in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Gastroentérologie et de Nutrition, IFR 50, UFR de Médecine, 28 Av. de Valombrose, 06107 Nice Cedex 2, France. nano@unice.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nano
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.forename: Fernand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Girard-Pipau
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rampal
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008055:Lipids; D014810:Vitamin E