Effect of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on lipid metabolic genes and estrogen receptor expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND

To investigate the effect of different ratios of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the expression of lipid metabolic genes and estrogen receptor (ER).

METHODS

This study took place in the Department of Surgery, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, between January 2012 and October 2013. MCF-7 breast cancer cells were cultured for 48 hours with different ratios of PUFAs. Cell proliferation capability was detected by MTT method. Lipid metabolic genes and estrogen receptor (ER) were detected by western blot.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the single n-6 PUFA group had no effect on sterol-regulatory-element-bindingprotein (SREBP) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression, while other groups all inhibited their expressions. Single n-6 group and 2:1 n-6/n-3 group down-regulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ), while in the other groups it was up-regulated. Single n-3 and n-6 groups had no effect on ER expression, while the others all suppressed the ER expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Different ratios of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may suppress the ER expression of MCF-7 cells and the effect may be related to its effect on the expression of lipid metabolic genes.