Premium
Protective role of carnitine in breast cancer via decreasing arginase activity and increasing nitric oxide
Author(s) -
Erbas Hakan,
Aydogdu Nurettin,
Usta Ufuk,
Erten Oya
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1016/j.cellbi.2007.06.007
Subject(s) - arginase , carnitine , nitric oxide , ornithine , cancer , chemistry , cancer research , medicine , arginine , endocrinology , biochemistry , biology , amino acid
Abstract 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.