Structure-activity relationship for potentiation of EGF-dependent mitogenesis by oxygenated metabolites of linoleic acid.

Epidermal growth factor induces the oxygenation of linoleic acid in Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts, and the lipoxygenase-derived products potentiate the mitogenic signal. We have further characterized the linoleate metabolites of growth factor-activated cells by chiral phase HPLC analysis. The primary product was identified as the pure (S) enantiomer of 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (HODE). In comparison to 13(R)-HODE isomer, only the biologically derived 13(S)-HODE was active in augmenting DNA synthesis as assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation. To extend these investigations, we defined the structural requirements of analogous lipid compounds necessary for stimulation of mitogenesis in these cells. Carbon-chain length, degree of unsaturation, type of oxidized functionality, position of oxygenated moiety, double-bond geometry, and chirality were all identified as factors that modulate the mitogenic activity of related compounds. The results demonstrate a high degree of specificity for (S)-isomer hydro(pero)xylinoleic acid metabolites in stimulating DNA synthesis and further define the relationship between linoleic acid metabolism and growth-factor-dependent cell growth.