Regulation of tumor cell adhesion by intracellular 13-HODE: 15-HETE ratio

We performed studies to determine whether tumor cells (TCs) produce 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE) and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE), and to determine the relationship between TC and endothelial cell (EC) 13-HODE and 15-HETE synthesis, and TC adhesion to ECs and their underlying extracellular matrix (ECM). We measured (1) the amounts and ratios of 13-HODE: 15-HETE in three different human TC lines and in three different murine TC lines under basal and stimulated conditions; and (2) the relationship between 13-HODE synthesis and cAMP levels in TCs and ECs. Under basal conditions, TCs produced both 13-HODE and 15-HETE, the intracellular ratios of which correlated with TC adhesivity. Stimulation of the TCs with the chemotactic tripeptide, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, decreased 13-HODE synthesis, and increased 15-HETE synthesis and TC adhesion to ECs and to their ECM. Alternatively, enhancing 13-HODE synthesis in either TCs or ECs (by elevating the resting levels of intracellular cAMP) was associated with decreased TC adhesion to ECs and ECM. These results suggest that intracellular 13-HODE: 15-HETE ratio in TCs regulates TC adhesivity, and that an alteration in 13-HODE: 15-HETE ratio will markedly influence TC adhesion.