Stearate preferentially induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.
Stearic acid (stearate) is an 18-carbon saturated fatty acid that has been shown to inhibit invasion and proliferation and induce apoptosis in various human cell types. The specificity of stearate-induced apoptosis for cancerous versus noncancerous breast cells has not been examined, and the mechanism underlying stearate-induced apoptosis is unknown. Morphological analysis, cell viability, and caspase-3 activity assays demonstrated that stearate activated apoptosis preferentially in cancerous breast cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of de novo diacylgycerol synthesis or protein kinase C (PKC) blocked stearate-induced caspase-3 activity, indicating the involvement of a novel or classical PKC isozyme. To our knowledge this is the first study showing that stearate induces apoptosis preferentially in breast cancer cells and implicates protein kinase C in the signaling cascade. These results raise the possibility of dietary stearate having a beneficial role in the prevention or treatment of breast cancer.
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Lynda M
LM
Evans
Stephanie L
SL
Cowey
Gene P
GP
Siegal
Robert W
RW
Hardy
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017209:Apoptosis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D048430:Cell Shape; D002470:Cell Survival; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004075:Diglycerides; D013229:Stearic Acids; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D053148:Caspase 3; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases