An Ω-3 fatty acid desaturase-expressing gene attenuates prostate cancer proliferation by cell cycle regulation.

Previous studies have reported that Ω-6 and Ω-3 fatty acids have opposing effects on cancer development. Consuming high levels of long-chain Ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been shown to reduce prostate cancer risk and increase chemotherapy sensitivity. The sdd17 gene encodes an Ω-3 fatty acid desaturase, which converts arachidonic acid into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). However, little is known regarding the function of the sdd17 gene in tumor cells in vitro. In the present study, prostate cancer cells were infected with the msdd17 gene, which allowed the endogenous production of Ω-3 PUFAs. The cells that expressed the msdd17 gene had high levels of long-chain Ω-3 PUFAs compared with the control cells. Expression of the msdd17 gene significantly inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation. EPA exposure and msdd17 gene transfection each induced G2 cell cycle arrest and reduced E2F transcription factor 1 expression in prostate cancer cells. These results suggest that msdd17 gene transfection suppressed prostate cancer cell proliferation and induced G2 cell cycle arrest.