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Polyunsaturated fatty acids increase the sensitivity of 36B10 rat astrocytoma cells to radiation-induced cell kill

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Lipids

Abstract

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as γ-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20: 5n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) have been shown to be cytotoxic to tumor cells. The objective of this work was to study the effect of PUFA on the radiation response of a 36B10 rat astrocytoma cell line. Supplementation of the astrocytoma cells with 15–45 μM GLA, EPA, or DHA produced marked changes in the fatty acid profiles of their phospholipids and neutral lipids. The methylene bridge index of these lipids increased significantly. These PUFA also exerted cytotoxic effects, as determined using the clonogenic cell survival assay. While GLA and DHA produced a moderate cell-killing effect, EPA was extremely cytotoxic, especially at a concentration of 45 μM. The monounsaturated oleic acid (OA, 18:1n-9) did not affect cell survival. Further, all three PUFA, and particularly GLA, increased the radiation-induced cell kill; OA did not enhance the effect of radiation. α-Tocopherol acetate blocked the enhanced radiation sensitivity of GLA- and DHA-supplemented cells. In conclusion, GLA, EPA, and DHA supplementation prior to, during, and after irradiation can enhance the radiation-induced cytotoxicity of rat astrocytoma cells. GLA and DHA supplementation post-irradiation also enhanced the radiation response of the 36B10 cells. Because GLA maximally increases the radioresponsiveness of a rat astrocytoma, this PUFA might prove useful in increasing the therapeutic efficacy of radiation in the treatment of certain gliomas.

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Abbreviations

AA:

arachidonica acid

DGLA:

dihomo-γ-linolenic acid

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid

DPA:

docosapentaenoic acid

DTA:

docosatetraenoic acid

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid

GLA:

γ-linolenic acid

OA:

oleic acid

PUFA:

polyunsaturate fatty acids

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa, 52242, Iowa City, Iowa

    Arthur A. Spector

  2. Radiation Research Laboratory, 77 Medical Laboratories, University of Iowa, 52242, Iowa City, IA

    Sujata Vartak & Mike E. C. Robbins

Authors
  1. Sujata Vartak
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  2. Mike E. C. Robbins
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  3. Arthur A. Spector
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Vartak, S., Robbins, M.E.C. & Spector, A.A. Polyunsaturated fatty acids increase the sensitivity of 36B10 rat astrocytoma cells to radiation-induced cell kill. Lipids 32, 283–292 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-997-0035-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-997-0035-y

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