title: n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reverse the development of polyps in Apc(Min/+) transgenic mice.
abstract: Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been demonstrated to reduce tumor load in Apc(Min/+) mice, supporting a role for n-3 PUFAs in the inhibition of colon carcinogenesis and progression. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a diet enriched with n-3 PUFAs, known already to have anti-neoplastic efficacy in Apc(Min/+) mice, would reverse the development of intestinal polyps. For this purpose, Apc(Min/+) mice were randomly divided into 3 groups of 5 animal each and fed as follows: control ST1 and ST2 groups, received a purified AIN-93M standard diet for 5 and 10 weeks, respectively; the OM-3R group received a purified AIN-93M standard diet for 5 weeks and a diet supplemented with salmon oil, rich in n-3 PUFAs, for another 5 weeks. After dietary treatment, in intestinal tissue, we evaluated the polyp number and volume, expression levels of cell proliferation- and apoptosis-related proteins, as well as the protein expression of LDL receptor and the levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity. The results showed the ability of a diet enriched with n-3 PUFAs to suppress intestinal polyps in Apc(Min/+) mice, and to significantly reverse polyp development associated with the downregulation of cell proliferation markers and with the induction of estrogen receptor β and LDL receptor, which are negative modulators of cellular proliferation. This noteworthy finding is important for a translational study evaluating the therapeutic role of n-3 PUFAs in the prevention and treatment of subjects with gastrointestinal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, National Institute for Digestive Diseases, Castellana Grotte, I-70013 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Notarnicola
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, National Institute for Digestive Diseases, Castellana Grotte, I-70013 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tutino
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, National Institute for Digestive Diseases, Castellana Grotte, I-70013 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, National Institute for Digestive Diseases, Castellana Grotte, I-70013 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Francavilla
mesh_terms: D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D011973:Receptors, LDL