Effect of long-chain fatty acids on human urothelial cells in organ culture

It has been suggested that tumour-derived cells are differentially sensitive to the anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects of long chain n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PuFAs). We have previously shown that PuFAs are also growth suppressive to highly proliferative normal human urinary bladder uro-epithelial (NHU) cells grown in monolayer culture. To determine if the effects on NHU cells are directly related to the proliferative index, we have studied the effects of long chain fatty acids in a bladder organ culture system, where proliferation and differentiation of the urothelium is under homeostatic control. A 50 μM concentration of fatty acids was chosen as this concentration of PuFA was profoundly growth inhibitory to NHU cells in monolayer culture. In organ culture, 50 μM PuFAs had no detectable effect on the proliferation or on the preservation of urothelial differentiated histioarchitecture, as assessed using a panel of phenotypic markers. These results suggest that the effects of PuFA may be modulated by the tissue microenvironment.