Distinct Influence of Saturated Fatty Acids on Malignant and Nonmalignant Human Lung Epithelial Cells

Abstract

The impact of saturated fatty acids (FA) on viability and properties of malignant and nonmalignant cells has not been studied in detail so far. The present study was aimed at evaluation of the influence of saturated FA (10:0–18:0) on malignant (A459) and nonmalignant (BEAS‐2B) human lung epithelial cells. FA strongly affected A549 cells, but not BEAS‐2B cells. Viability of A549 cells incubated with 14:0–18:0 was decreased by 53–91% as compared to untreated cells. Cell membrane stiffness in those cells as measured by atomic force microscopy was also reduced. Median value of apparent Young's modulus of untreated A549 cell membrane was 16.9 kPa and it decreased to 8.9 kPa for cells incubated with 14:0. Viability and mechanical properties of BEAS‐2B cells were not altered by presence of FA. Those surprising discrepancies can be related to the differences in FA uptake rate. A549 cells were found to incorporate higher amount of FA and this corresponded to decrease in cell membrane stiffness and reduced cell viability. The performed studies showed that saturated FA have distinct influence on various types of cells, which may be exploited in development of the advanced lipid drug delivery systems.

On the application of hydrodynamic cavitation on a chip in cellular injury and drug delivery

“…BEAS-2B cells, on the other hand, constitute a cell line with larger morphology and are well spread compared to A549 cells. Reczyńska et al 52 examined the stiffness values of these two cell lines with AFM and similarly reported that A549 cells were stiffer than BEAS-2B cells. As stated in various sources, cell stiffness is closely associated with actin stress fibers in the cell cytoplasm.…”

Evaluation of the In Vitro Stability of Stimuli-Sensitive Fatty Acid-Based Microparticles for the Treatment of Lung Cancer

“…No such effect has been observed for microparticles formed from a mixture of myristic and palmitic acids. In other studies, it has been observed that saturated fatty acids alone can reduce malignant cells (A540 line) viability with no effect on nonmalignant cells (BEAS-2B line) . Therefore, there are experimental evidences that both PAX and saturated fatty acids affect malignant cells, whereas SPIONs do not affect microparticles efficacy, properties, or topology.…”

“…In other studies, it has been observed that saturated fatty acids alone can reduce malignant cells (A540 line) viability with no effect on nonmalignant cells (BEAS-2B line). 17 Therefore, there are experimental evidences that both PAX and saturated fatty acids affect malignant cells, whereas SPIONs do not affect microparticles efficacy, properties, or topology. As stated above, when microparticles are inhaled, they first encounter the mucus layer.…”

Bringing naturally-occurring saturated fatty acids into biomedical research

“…120 Reczyn ´ska et al suggested that a large intake of NSFAs by cancerous A549 cells led to decreased stiffness of cell membranes and reduced cell viability, whereas the cell viability of non-malignant BEAS-2B cells was barely affected. 121 Such a discrepancy indicates that the delivery of excessive NSFAs to cancer cells may provide an alternative way for targeted cancer therapy.…”