Modulation of angiogenesis by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is mediated by cyclooxygenases

Blood. 2008 Apr 1;111(7):3514-21. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-08-109934. Epub 2008 Jan 23.

Abstract

The potential role of dietary fats in cancer is attracting considerable interest within the community. Both epidemiologic and experimental findings suggest that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs), which are almost absent from typical Western diets, exert protective effects against cancer progression, although the precise mechanism of this suppression remains unknown. One of the potential targets for omega-3 PUFAs in cancer suppression is angiogenesis, a process of new blood vessel formation within rapidly growing tumors. Here, we demonstrate that omega-6 PUFAs stimulate and omega-3 PUFAs inhibit major proangiogenic processes in human endothelial cells, including the induction of angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) and matrix metalloprotease-9, endothelial invasion, and tube formation, that are usually activated by the major omega-6 PUFA arachidonic acid. The cyclooxygenase (COX)-mediated conversion of PUFAs to prostanoid derivatives participated in modulation of the expression of Ang2. Thus, the omega-6 PUFA-derived prostaglandin E2 augmented, whereas the omega-3 PUFA-derived prostaglandin E3 suppressed the induction of Ang2 by growth factors. Our findings are consistent with the suggestion that PUFAs undergo biotransformation by COX-2 to lipid mediators that modulate tumor angiogenesis, which provides new insight into the beneficial effects of omega-3 PUFAs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alprostadil / analogs & derivatives
  • Alprostadil / metabolism
  • Angiopoietin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Arachidonic Acid / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / enzymology*
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / pharmacology*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism*

Substances

  • Angiopoietin-2
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6
  • Arachidonic Acid
  • prostaglandin E3
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
  • Alprostadil
  • Dinoprostone