RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Previous reports have shown an antiproliferative effect of the synthetic, 3-thia fatty acid tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA) on different cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The mechanisms behind the observed effects are poorly understood. We therefore wanted to explore the molecular mechanisms involved in TTA-induced growth inhibition of the human colon cancer cell line SW620 by gene expression profiling. METHODS: An antiproliferative effect of TTA on SW620 cells in vitro was displayed in real time using the xCELLigence System (Roche). Affymetrix gene expression profiling was performed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind the antiproliferative effect of TTA. Changes in gene expression were verified at protein level by western blotting. RESULTS: TTA reduced SW620 cell growth, measured as baseline cell index, by 35% and 55% after 48 h and 72 h, respectively. We show for the first time that TTA induces an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in cancer cells. Gene expression analysis revealed changes related to ER stress and unfolded protein response (UPR). This was verified at protein level by phosphorylation of eukaryote translation initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) and downstream up-regulation of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Transcripts for positive and negative cell cycle regulators were down- and up-regulated, respectively. This, together with a down-regulation of Cyclin D1 at protein level, indicates inhibition of cell cycle progression. TTA also affected transcripts involved in calcium homeostasis. Moreover, mRNA and protein level of the ER stress inducible C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), Tribbles homolog 3 (Drosophila) (TRIB3) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPß) were enhanced, and the C/EBPß LIP/LAP ratio was significantly increased. These results indicate prolonged ER stress and a possible link to induction of cell death. CONCLUSION: We find that TTA-induced growth inhibition of SW620 cells seems to be mediated through induction of ER stress and activation of the UPR pathway.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Estresse do Retículo Endoplasmático/efeitos dos fármacos , Sulfetos/farmacologia , Fator 6 Ativador da Transcrição/genética , Fator 6 Ativador da Transcrição/metabolismo , Proteínas Reguladoras de Apoptose/genética , Proteínas Reguladoras de Apoptose/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/genética , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Neoplasias do Colo , Endorribonucleases/genética , Endorribonucleases/metabolismo , Fator de Iniciação 2 em Eucariotos/genética , Fator de Iniciação 2 em Eucariotos/metabolismo , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , ATPases Transportadoras de Cálcio da Membrana Plasmática/genética , ATPases Transportadoras de Cálcio da Membrana Plasmática/metabolismo , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/genética , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/metabolismo , Transcrição Gênica , Resposta a Proteínas não Dobradas/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
N-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may be associated with increased risk of colon cancer, whereas n-3 PUFAs may have a protective effect. We examined the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid and arachidonic acid on the colon carcinoma cell lines SW480 derived from a primary tumour, and SW620 derived from a metastasis of the same tumour. DHA had the strongest growth-inhibitory effect on both cell lines. SW620 was relatively more growth-inhibited than SW480, but SW620 also had the highest growth rate in the absence of PUFAs. Flow cytometry revealed an increase in the fraction of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, particularly for SW620 cells. Growth inhibition was apparently not caused by increased lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione or low activity of glutathione peroxidase. Transmission electron microscopy revealed formation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets after DHA treatment. In SW620 cells an eightfold increase in total cholesteryl esters and a 190-fold increase in DHA-containing cholesteryl esters were observed after DHA treatment. In contrast, SW480 cells accumulated DHA-enriched triglycerides. Arachidonic acid accumulated in a similar manner, whereas the nontoxic oleic acid was mainly incorporated in triglycerides in both cell lines. Interestingly, nuclear sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (nSREBP1), recently associated with cell growth regulation, was downregulated after DHA treatment in both cell lines. Our results demonstrate cell-specific mechanisms for the processing and storage of cytotoxic PUFAs in closely related cell lines, and suggest downregulation of nSREBP1 as a possible contributor to the growth inhibitory effect of DHA.
