The effect of ?-6 fatty acid on WT1 and WIF-1 genes expression and inducing apoptosis in A375 melanoma cell line

Background: An exciting question as to whether nutritional linoleic acid (LA, Omega-6, or co-6) fatty acid interferes with tumorigenesis is remained to be entirely determined in well experimentally qualified investigations. To elucidate the particular roles of LA in tumorigenesis of melanoma skin cancer, we evaluated the effect of this fatty acid on a melanoma cell line, A375, in terms of tumor growth characteristics by MTT and Flow Cytometry. In particular, we have analyzed the expression levels of two genes (WIF-1 and WT1) involved during Wnt signaling pathway as a molecular base for the formation and progression of many cancer types. Methods: In order to analyze the cell viability, MTT assay was performed following the treatment of cultured human melanoma cell line, A375, by various concentrations of co-6 in 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h time intervals, and apoptosis was determined using Flow Cytometry. The expression of WIF-1 and WT1 genes were measured using quantitative real-time PCR, which were further analyzed by Rest 2.0.13 Software. Results: Our findings revealed that during treatment of cells with all the concentrations of co-6 in various time intervals, the expression of the WIF-1 gene was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in contrast to decreasing WT1 expression levels in a time-and concentration-dependent manner. The cell viability was also shown to be decreased with an IC50 value of 1000 mu M. The differences were more substantial following 72 h of treatment. Discussion: Our results supported the contributory role of co-6 on the tumor growth of melanoma cells, highlighting the potential of this fatty acid as an influencing element which at least in part exerts its inhibitory roles by interfering with Wnt signaling molecules WIF-1 and WT1.