EFFECT OF CIS-UNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS ON CELLULAR OXIDANT STRESS IN MACROPHAGE TUMOR (AK-5) CELLS IN-VITRO

Cis-unsaturated fatty acids (c-UFAs) induced decreased survival of mac rophage tumor (AK-5) cells in vitro. The cytotoxic action of c-UfAs wa s associated with an increase in free radical generation and lipid per oxidation process. In addition, exposure of AK-5 cells to various c-UF As for a short period (1 h) decreased the cellular concentrations of a nti-oxidants: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxi dase, glutathione reductase, glutathione and vitamin E. However, prolo nged (24 h) exposure of AK-5 cells to c-UFAs enhanced the levels of SO D with little or no change in the concentrations of catalase, glutathi one peroxidase and glutathione reductase. These results indicate that c-UFAs can enhance free radical generation and lower the concentration s of various anti-oxidants in the tumor cells which may explain the cy totoxic action of c-UFAs.