Erythrocyte membrane fatty acid profile and saturation index in gallbladder carcinogenesis: a case-control study

Abstract

BackgroundGallbladder cancer is a common neoplasm of biliary tract, with an unknown etiology.Patients and methodsThis study was carried out to evaluate the changes in the membrane fatty acid profile and saturation index in patients with gallbladder cancer. The study sample consisted of 50 newly diagnosed cases of gallbladder cancer and 50 patients undergoing cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis were recruited as controls. The fatty acid estimation was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Statistical analysis was carried out by student 't' test and one-way ANOVA. Pearson's correlation coefficient was also obtained.ResultsA significant lowering of erythrocyte membrane stearic acid (p = 0.000), arachidonic acid (p = 0.001), and saturation index (p = 0.001) was observed in patients with gallbladder cancer compared to controls. A significant inverse relation was observed between stearic and oleic acid (r = -0.269 p = 0.007).ConclusionResults of the present study suggest an increase in the delta 9 desaturation in cancer patients compared to controls however, a possible role of biliary stasis due to altered gallbladder motility or derangements of signal transduction secondary to altered membrane lipid bilayer cannot be ruled out.

Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-1 Enzyme Inhibition by Grape Skin Extracts Affects Membrane Fluidity in Human Colon Cancer Cell Lines

“…The study of fatty acids extracted from cell membranes is considered a valid approach to evaluate the possible effects of natural compounds on cell morphological changes that can influence the different aspects of tumorigenesis [10,[19][20][21][22]. In this work, we found that GSEs are able to inhibit cell migration in both human colorectal cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner.…”

“…In this work, we have demonstrated the ability of these two table grape varieties to modify the fatty acid profile of cell membranes and the lipids play certainly an important role in the adaptation of cancer cells [7,20]. The treatment with both varieties of GSEs resulted in a reduction in the total levels of SCD1 in the two cell lines studied, given by the sum of the ratios palmitoleic acid/palmitic acid and oleic acid/stearic acid.…”

“…Higher levels of oleic acid and consequent reduction in Saturation Index levels (expressed as stearic acid/oleic acid ratio) were found in Apc Min/+ mice treated with olive oil compared to the control group fed standard diet, demonstrating that nutritional intervention can determine changes in membrane lipid content by acting on the activity of enzymes involved in lipid metabolism [19]. A reduction in stearic acid/oleic acid ratio levels in red blood cell membranes has been observed in different types of tumors and it seems to be associated with tumor mass and degree of malignancy [20][21][22].…”

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Focus on New Biomarkers and Lifestyle Interventions

“…The lipidomic analysis on the erythrocyte membrane as “reporter” for liver injury is well recognized [ 1 , 111 ]. The morphology, permeability, and fluidity, as well as the membrane fatty acids composition of red cell blood and hepatocytes, are very similar [ 1 ].…”

The Fatty Acid and Protein Profiles of Circulating CD81-Positive Small Extracellular Vesicles Are Associated with Disease Stage in Melanoma Patients

“…Unsaturated lipids, such as oleic acid, determine the decrease of membrane lipid packing, consequently improving fluidity. In this context, the saturation index, SI, and the C18:0/C18:1 ratio, also considered a marker of cell membrane fluidity, gain significance [34,35]. In some epidemiological studies, the ratio of MUFA to SFA has been used to reflect stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) activity as a predictive marker of breast cancer risk [36,37].…”