Protective role of carnitine in breast cancer via decreasing arginase activity and increasing nitric oxide


ERBAS H., Aydogdu N., USTA U., ERTEN O.

CELL BIOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, cilt.31, sa.11, ss.1414-1419, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 31 Sayı: 11
  • Basım Tarihi: 2007
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.cellbi.2007.06.007
  • Dergi Adı: CELL BIOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1414-1419
  • İnönü Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Breast cancer remains one of the most common types of cancer. High levels of arginase and ornithine in different carcinomas may indicate their relation to cancer. Carnitine is a cofactor required for the transformation of free long-chain fatty acids into acetyl-carnitines. We have examined the protective effect of carnitine and the possibility that it disturbs arginase-nitric oxide (NO) interaction. Histopathological examination, arginase activity, ornithine and NO levels were determined in tumour tissues. Mitotic cells significantly decreased in the treatment group. Tissue arginase activity and ornithine levels decreased significantly with carnitine. NO levels were significantly higher in the treatment group. One of the possible mechanisms of carnitine's protective role in tumour progression might be its promotion of NO. This mechanism could decrease the production of tumour-promoting agents, polyamines, and increase the production of NO, thereby exerting a protective effect on cancer development. (c) 2007 International Federation for Cell Biology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.