Skip to main content
Figure 4 | Lipids in Health and Disease

Figure 4

From: Omega 3 fatty acids increase the chemo-sensitivity of B-CLL-derived cell lines EHEB and MEC-2 and of B-PLL-derived cell line JVM-2 to anti-cancer drugs doxorubicin, vincristine and fludarabine

Figure 4

In vitro sensitivity of MEC-2 following treatment with doxorubicin or vincristine in the presence and absence vehicle, AA, EPA or DHA. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Percent (%) cell death was determined by Annexin-V/Propidium Iodide duel stain with flow cytometry. Figure 4A illustrates the % cell viability ± SEM of MEC-2 to doxorubicin (0–7.5 μM) in the presence or absence of vehicle, AA 25 μM, EPA 50 μM or DHA 50 μM. Cells pre-treated with either EPA or DHA had significantly greater decreases in cell viability as compared to vehicle when treated with doxorubicin. Figure 4B illustrates the % cell viability ± SEM of MEC-2 to vincristine (0-250 nM) in the presence or absence of vehicle, AA 25 μM, EPA 50 μM or DHA 50 μM. Cells pre-treated with either EPA or DHA had significantly greater decreases in cell viability as compared to vehicle following treatment with vincristine. Figure 4C illustrates the % dead cells ± SEM of MEC-2 following pre-treatment with vehicle, AA 25 μM, EPA 50 μM or DHA 50 μM alone and following treatment with 1.5 μM doxorubicin or 100 nM vincristine. Compared to vehicle, pre-treatment DHA alone induced significantly greater cell death; whereas pre-treatment with either AA or EPA induced significantly lower cell death. Cells pre-treated with DHA had higher cell death, as compared to vehicle, when treated with doxorubicin or vincristine; however, this was only significant when compared against AA pre-treated cells. Figure 4D provides 2D graphical representations of Annexin-V/PI Plots. ‘Early’ Apoptosis was defined as cells positive for Annexin-V-FITC only. ‘Late’ Apoptosis was defined as cells positive for Annexin-V-FITC and PI. ‘Necrotic’ was defined as cells positive for PI only. Statistical significance was determined by Multiple Comparison Test with Dunnet’s correction (Figure 4A and B) or Tukey’s correction (Figure 4C). α = 0.05, * <0.05, ** < 0.01, *** < 0.001.

Back to article page