GROWTH MODULATING EFFECTS OF CHLORINATED OLEIC-ACID IN CELL-CULTURES

Chlorinated fatty acids represent a major fraction of extractable, org anically bound chlorine in fish. After dietary intake such fatty acids may be transferred from the mother to the foetus through the placenta , and via breast milk to the child. In the present work we have studie d the effect of chlorinated oleic acid on the growth of three widely d iffering types of cells in culture. Chlorinated oleic acid inhibited g rowth of Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMVEC), Immortilized H uman Kidney Epithelial (IHKE) cells, and human Hepatoma cells (HepG2). The order of potency was: HMVEC>IHKE>HepG2. Vitamin E counteracted th e inhibitory effect of chlorinated oleic acid on HepG2 cells, but did not significantly affect the fatty acid effect on HMVEC or IHKE. Defat ted serum albumin stimulated the growth of HMVEC and IHKE. With HMVEC there was no major interaction between the effect of albumin and chlor inated oleic acid on cell growth. In contrast, with IHKE albumin at lo w concentration abolished the growth inhibiting effect of chlorinated oleic acid and appreciably counteracted growth inhibition by the fatty acid of HepG2. We conclude that the growth modulation by chlorinated oleic acid and its interaction with vitamin E and albumin are cell spe cific.