title: Fat-1 gene inhibits human oral squamous carcinoma cell proliferation through downregulation of β-catenin signaling pathways.
abstract: The ω-3 fatty acid desaturase (fat-1) gene encodes the enzyme that converts ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to ω-3 PUFAs. Numerous studies have suggested that the ratio of ω-6/ω-3 PUFAs has an impact on tumorigenesis. To investigate the biological function of the fat-1 gene in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the fat-1 gene was introduced into OSCC cells by transfection. The uptake of the gene was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and analyzed using gas chromatography. The antitumor effects and mechanisms of the fat-1 gene were evaluated by studying cell survival and tumor growthin vitroandin vivo. Gas chromatography results revealed that the cells transfected with the fat-1 gene had a higher ω-3/ω-6 PUFA ratio than cells transfected with the control vector. An MTT and DNA fragmentation assay indicated that the presence of the fat-1 genein vitrosignificantly decreased OSCC cell proliferation and significantly increased the rate of apoptosis. Similar antitumor effects of the fat-1 gene were also observedin vivo. Immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed that Tca8113 cell tumors displayed a significant reduction in cell growth and cell survival following the introduction of the fat-1 gene. The current study suggests that the inhibitory effect of the fat-1 gene on tumor growth may be a result of a reduction in the expression of the tumor survival protein β-catenin. The results also support the theory that the ratio of ω-3/ω-6 PUFAs has an impact on OSCC tumor growth. The findings of the study provide notable molecular insight into the theory suggesting that ω-3 PUFAs are an intermediate for the chemoprevention and treatment of human OSCC.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130062, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Daibang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130062, P.R. China; College of Quartermaster Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130062, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zuozhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130062, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130062, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Daxin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130062, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hongsheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130062, P.R. China.
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: oral squamous cell carcinoma; β-catenin; ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids