beware in drawing too many conclusions MCF7 (her2-) breast cancer line used

1: J Nutr. 2006 Feb;136(2):421-7. Links

Conjugated Linoleic Acid Attenuates Cyclooxygenase-2 Transcriptional Activity via an Anti-AP-1 Mechanism in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells.

Degner SC, Kemp MQ, Bowden GT, Romagnolo DF.

Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Arizona Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721.

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is regarded as a causative factor in the onset of tumorigenesis of the breast. In this study, we investigated the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on COX-2 transcription in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Results of transient transfection studies revealed that treatment with a CLA mix or selected isomers (c9, t11-CLA; t10, c12-CLA) at concentrations ranging from 20 to 80 mumol/L, attenuated COX-2 transcription induced by the proinflammatory agent 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In addition, the CLA mix inhibited TPA-induced activity of the collagenase-1 promoter. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we found that the CLA mix reduced TPA-induced recruitment of nuclear proteins to a cAMP response element (CRE) in the COX-2 promoter and a consensus TPA-responsive element (TRE) in the collagenase-1 promoter. Both CRE and TRE are binding sites for activator protein-1 (AP-1). Binding studies revealed that the t10, c12-CLA isomer was more effective than the CLA mix or c9, t11-CLA in reducing binding of cJun to either the COX-2 CRE or collagenase-1 TRE, whereas linoleic acid increased binding to both elements. Overexpression of the AP-1 member, c-Jun, reversed the inhibitory effects of the CLA mix on COX-2 transcription, and restored binding of nuclear proteins to the CRE and TRE. Collectively, these results suggest that CLA represses AP-1-mediated activation of COX-2 transcription.

PMID: 16424122 [PubMed - in process]