Gamma linolenic acid regulates gap junction communication in endothelial cells and their interaction with tumour cells.

Tumour-endothelial cell adhesion forms a key role in the establishment of distant metastases. This study examined the effect of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), an anti-cancer polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), on both the gap junction communication of human vascular endothelial cells and tumour cell-endothelial interactions. By using scrape loading of Lucifer yellow dye, we showed that GLA at non-toxic levels increased Lucifer yellow transfer, indicating improved gap junction communication. The fatty acid also corrected the communication that was reduced by the mitogenic and motogenic factor HGF/SF. GLA inhibited the tyrosine phosphorylation of connexin-43, a protein that formed gap junction in this cell. When human tumour cells were added to quiescent or HGF/SF-activated endothelial cells, the presence of GLA reduced adhesion of tumour cells to the endothelium. It is concluded that GLA reduces tumour-endothelium adhesion, partly by improved gap junction communications of the endothelium.