[Apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells induced by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(omega-3PUFAs) on the apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 and to explore the potential mechanisms.


METHODS
Cells were treated with eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 omega-3,EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 omega-3, DHA) at concentrations of 10, 20 and 40 microg/ml. Cell growth and apoptosis were analyzed with MTT assay, cell morphology, DNA electrophoresis and flow cytometry. Mitochondrial membrane potential ( triangle right psi mt) was measured by fluorescent probe rhodamine 123. The distribution of cytochrome C in mitochondria and cytosol was determined by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay. The composition of mitochondrial membrane phospholipid(MMP)was examined by gas chromatography.


RESULTS
Both EPA and DHA markedly inhibited the SGC-7901 cell growth and induced apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. After incubation of the cells with 40 microg/ml EPA or DHA for 24 hours, the level of Deltapsimt siginificantly decreased (P<0.001), and cytochrome C largely released into cytosol from mitochondria. The proportions of EPA and DHA in MMP rapidly elevated while that of arachidonic acid sharply decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
omega-3PUFAs inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells through promoting apoptosis. Compositional and functional alterations in mitochondrial membrane may be an important initiator of apoptosis induced by omega-3PUFAs.
Yin
Yong
Y
Department of Gsatrointestinopancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Zhan
Wen-Hua
WH
Peng
Jun-Sheng
JS
Zhao
Zong-Gang
ZG
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D045304:Cytochromes c