Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids and of their oxidation products on cell survival

• Published in: Chemistry and physics of lipids Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 269 - 313
• Main Author: BEGIN, M. E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.11.1987; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell metabolism, cell oxidation; Cell physiology; cell proliferation; Cell Survival - drug effects; cell viability; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Molecular and cellular biology; Oxidation-Reduction; peroxidation; polyunsaturated fatty acids; cell viability; peroxidation; cell proliferation; polyunsaturated fatty acids; Cell proliferation; Unsaturated fatty acid; Cytotoxicity; Lipids; Oxidation; Cell death
• ISSN: 0009-3084; 1873-2941
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-3084(87)90069-7

The stimulatory, cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids, prostaglandins, thromboxanes, hydroperoxy fatty acids, hydroxy fatty acids and leukotrienes on normal and tumor cells are described. Their effects are related to the ability of the cells to undergo lipid peroxidation. The significance of controlled peroxidation of selected polyunsaturated fatty acids in the control of tumor development is examined. It is suggested that selected polyunsaturated fatty acids if used at appropriate concentrations may have a protective role against cancer development by inducing and/or mediating cytotoxic reactions in malignant cells directly or indirectly through the intermediacy of immune cells.