Frontiers in Marine Science (May 2020)

Excess DHA Induces Cell Cycle Arrest by Activating the P53/Cycling Pathway in Blunt Snout Bream (Megalobrama amblycephala)

  • Cong-cong Wang,
  • Cong-cong Wang,
  • Wen-bin Liu,
  • Wen-bin Liu,
  • Xiu-fei Cao,
  • Xiu-fei Cao,
  • Yang-yang Huang,
  • Yang-yang Huang,
  • Xi Wang,
  • Xi Wang,
  • Kang Xiao,
  • Kang Xiao,
  • Xiang-fei Li,
  • Xiang-fei Li,
  • Ding-dong Zhang,
  • Ding-dong Zhang,
  • Guang-zhen Jiang,
  • Guang-zhen Jiang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00286
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

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A previous study showed that diets with high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) cause growth retardation in Megalobrama amblycephala. In order to explore the mechanisms involved, a feeding trial and a primary hepatocyte culture experiment were designed. In vivo, fish (average weight 26.40 ± 0.11 g) were randomly divided into groups and were fed three levels of DHA (0, 0.2, and 1.6% diets, respectively.) for 8 weeks. The results showed that the final body weight and weight gain of fish fed 1.6% DHA were significantly lower than those of fish fed 0.2% DHA (P < 0.05). P53 gene and protein expression levels were significantly increased (P < 0.05), while expression of downstream Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1 was significantly inhibited in the 1.6% DHA group when compared with the 0 and 0.2% DHA groups (P < 0.05). In vitro, primary hepatocytes isolated from Megalobrama amblycephala incubated with 500 μM DHA showed significantly increased cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (P < 0.05), significantly increased P53 gene and protein levels (P < 0.05), and significantly decreased Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1 levels (P < 0.05) when compared with other groups. When primary hepatocytes were incubated with DHA and a P53 inhibitor (pifithrin-α), P53 expression and P53-mediated signaling were inhibited, cell cycle progression recovered, and apoptosis was reduced. In summary, high levels of DHA activated the P53/Cyclin pathway to induce cell cycle arrest. Inhibition of P53 activity may be a potential way of reducing the side effects of DHA on the growth of Megalobrama amblycephala.

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