title: Role of autophagy in the ω-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid-induced death of lung cancer A549 cells.
abstract: The present study identified that ω-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) demonstrate anti-proliferative effects in lung cancer A549 cells. MTS and cytotoxicity assays were conducted to confirm that ω-3 PUFAs induced cell death. Autophagy-associated gene and signaling pathways were also detected. Microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) expression was found to be increased subsequent to treatment with DHA and EPA, and the expression of LC3-II was particularly increased. mRFP-GFP-LC3 fluorescence staining and p62 expression levels were used to detect autophagic flux. The present results indicate that DHA and EPA block autophagic flux, suggesting autophagosome accumulation. Subsequent to treatment with DHA and EPA, which interfered with autophagosomes, the expression of Beclin 1 was significantly decreased, while the expression of phosphorylated Akt and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin was significantly increased. Therefore, DHA and EPA exert anti-proliferative effects by inhibiting autophagy in A549 cells, which highlights the potential of DHA and EPA for use in the prevention or treatment of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qinghua
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China.
authors.forename: L U
authors.initials: LU
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuebiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lulu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
keywords: Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin; autophagy; ω-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids