Anticancer properties of oxidation products of docosahexaenoic acid.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the longest, most unsaturated, and hence, most oxidizable fatty acid commonly found in nature. The mechanisms behind DHA's many biological functions remain a subject of much debate. Here we review one important, but often unstudied, aspect of DHA function, namely, the potential role of its many oxidation products. We divide this review into camps, enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidations, and report their effects primarily on induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. We conclude that the study of the effects of lipid peroxidation products on biochemical function will be a difficult but highly rewarding area for future studies.
Siddiqui
Rafat A
RA
Methodist Research Institute, Clarian Health Partners, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States. rsiddiqu@clarian.org
Harvey
Kevin
K
Stillwell
William
W
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D020169:Caspases