Open Access

DHA induces apoptosis of human malignant breast cancer tissues by the TLR‑4/PPAR‑α pathways

  • Authors:
    • Lijing Geng
    • Wei Zhou
    • Bing Liu
    • Xinyun Wang
    • Bo Chen
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 28, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.7702
  • Pages: 2967-2977
  • Copyright: © Geng et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) oil is an important polyunsaturated fatty acid for the human body. Evidence has demonstrated that DHA is beneficial for inhibiting mammary carcinogenesis. However, the mechanisms of DHA mediating apoptosis induction have not been fully elucidated. Thus, in the present study, the activity levels of total‑superoxide dismutase (t‑SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione‑peroxidase (GSH‑PX) and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in DHA oil‑treated human malignant breast tissues. The results revealed that compared with control, DHA significantly increased the main antioxidant enzymes levels, including t‑SOD, CAT, and GSH‑PX, but decreased the MDA concentration in the DHA oil treated breast cancer tissues. Furthermore, DHA significantly increased the ratio of cyclic (c)AMP/cGMP levels and promoted the expression of Toll‑like receptor 4 (TLR‑4) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)‑α, thus DHA induced breast cancer cell apoptosis. We hypothesized that the levels of TLR‑4 and PPAR‑α are involved in the antitumorigenesis properties of DHA in breast cancer. The results of the present study hold significance for the further clinical development of DHA oil in breast cancer treatment.
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March-2018
Volume 15 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Geng L, Zhou W, Liu B, Wang X and Chen B: DHA induces apoptosis of human malignant breast cancer tissues by the TLR‑4/PPAR‑α pathways. Oncol Lett 15: 2967-2977, 2018.
APA
Geng, L., Zhou, W., Liu, B., Wang, X., & Chen, B. (2018). DHA induces apoptosis of human malignant breast cancer tissues by the TLR‑4/PPAR‑α pathways. Oncology Letters, 15, 2967-2977. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.7702
MLA
Geng, L., Zhou, W., Liu, B., Wang, X., Chen, B."DHA induces apoptosis of human malignant breast cancer tissues by the TLR‑4/PPAR‑α pathways". Oncology Letters 15.3 (2018): 2967-2977.
Chicago
Geng, L., Zhou, W., Liu, B., Wang, X., Chen, B."DHA induces apoptosis of human malignant breast cancer tissues by the TLR‑4/PPAR‑α pathways". Oncology Letters 15, no. 3 (2018): 2967-2977. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.7702