Functional transplant of megabase human immunoglobulin loci recapitulates human antibody response in mice.

We constructed two megabase-sized YACs containing large contiguous fragments of the human heavy and kappa (kappa) light chain immunoglobulin (Ig) loci in nearly germline configuration, including approximately 66 VH and 32 V kappa genes. We introduced these YACs into Ig-inactivated mice and observed human antibody production which closely resembled that seen in humans in all respects, including gene rearrangement, assembly, and repertoire. Diverse Ig gene usage together with somatic hypermutation enables the mice to generate high affinity fully human antibodies to multiple antigens, including human proteins. Our results underscore the importance of the large Ig fragments with multiple V genes for restoration of a normal humoral immune response. These mice are likely to be a valuable tool for the generation of therapeutic antibodies.

Dietary fat influences on murine melanoma growth and lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity.

The effects of fat concentration and saturation on the growth of a B16 melanoma and lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against the cells were studied with the use of inbred C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ mice subjected to dietary manipulation before and after tumor transplantation. The tumor latency for mice initially given injections of 5 X 10(6) syngeneic B16 melanoma cells was significantly less for those mice fed at 20% fat concentration than those fed only the essential fatty acid (EFA) diet. When mice were given injections of 10(6) melanoma cells, the initiation time required for visible tumor growth in mice receiving the polyunsaturated fat (PUF) diet was significantly less than that in mice receiving the saturated fat (SF) diet. Cytolysis mediated by lymphocytes from diet-manipulated mice toward allogeneic B16 melanoma cells was greater for those mice receiving the EFA diet only and 8% SF diets than for those mice fed a diet without fat. The cytolytic response decreased immediately with the additional PUF in the diet, whereas additional SF decreased cytolytic responses only when dietary SF concentration was greater than 8%. Thus dietary fat, particularly PUF, has a significant influence on the growth and lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity of a murine melanoma. This effect cannot be attributed to differences in the energy content between high-fat and low-fat diets.

Lipid modulation of mammary tumor cell cytolysis: direct influence of dietary fats on the effector component of cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

For understanding the mechanism by which fatty acids promote mammary tumor growth, experiments were designed to determine the influence of dietary fat concentration and saturation on both effector (Ef) and target (Ta) cells in an allogeneic antitumor cell-mediated immune response. Exposure of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) to different fatty acids led to significant changes in the subsequent cytolytic capacity of these cells after both primary and secondary immunization. An increase in both saturated (SF) and polyunsaturated (PUF) fats led to decreased cytotoxic function after primary immunization. After a secondary challenge, the suppressive influence of SF was significantly greater than that of PUF, compared to that of the control diet containing essential fatty acids as the only fat source. This response was mediated by a direct effect on the CTL and not through an increase in suppressor or a decrease in Ef or helper cell frequency. In contrast, manipulation of the fatty acid environment of the Ta mammary tumor cells in vivo or in vitro had no significant effect on their susceptibility to lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. Therefore, dietary fats may mediate their effect by a direct influence on the immunocompetent lymphocyte and not on the Ta mammary tumor cell.

Susceptibility of mammary tumor cells to complement-mediated cytolysis after in vitro or in vivo fatty acid manipulation.

The susceptibility of line 168 murine mammary tumor cells to complement (C)-mediated lysis was tested after in vitro treatment with several saturated or unsaturated fatty acids dissolved in different solvents or presented in the form of micelles to the cells. The lytic susceptibility of these cultured cells was compared with similar tumor cells obtained either from mice maintained on diets containing different concentrations and saturations of fatty acids or from cultures supplemented with serum from tumor-free control mice fed pair-matched diets. Although changes in dietary fat concentration and saturation resulted in alterations of the tumor cell fatty acid composition, those alterations did not influence the susceptibility of tumor cells to C-mediated lysis. However, single, or combinations of, unsaturated fatty acids dissolved in ethanol, unlike saturated fatty acids, reduced the lytic susceptibility of tumor cells in vitro. Hexane added to culture medium significantly suppressed the lytic susceptibility; however, when used as a carrier no significant differences were observed among treatments with the individual fatty acids at several concentrations. This result may be due to the effect of hexane on the cell membrane because this treatment also affected the osmotic fragility of the cells. Fatty acids as micelles did not influence the susceptibility of tumor cells to lysis. We concluded that only in vitro manipulation of fatty acids in some vehicles influenced the susceptibility of target tumor cells to C-mediated lysis; this finding did not parallel the situation that occurred in vivo. Moreover, the use of different vehicles to present fatty acids to tumor cells may further alter the susceptibility to C-mediated lysis.

Enhancement of metastasis from a transplantable mouse mammary tumor by dietary linoleic acid.

The influence of quantitative differences in dietary linoleic acid (18:2) on the metastasis as well as the development of line 4526 mouse mammary tumors was investigated. High fat diets (20%, w/w) that contained either 1, 2, 4, 8, or 12% 18:2 by weight, were prepared by using mixtures of coconut and safflower oil and fed to female BALB/c mice that were subsequently inoculated with 10(4) 4526 tumor cells s.c., either at the lateral abdominal wall (LAW) or in the mammary fat pad (MFP). Latency of LAW tumors was influenced by the level of dietary 18:2, whereas the latency of MFP tumors was not. When metastasis was assessed, mice with MFP tumors fed 1, 2, 4, or 8% 18:2 diets had 62-73% fewer lung surface tumor nodules than similar mice fed 12% 18:2. Mice in all dietary groups with LAW tumors had fewer metastatic lung nodules than mice with MFP tumors; mice with LAW tumors fed diets containing 1, 2, or 4% 18:2 had 52-69% fewer nodules than similar mice fed diets containing 8 or 12% 18:2. There were no significant differences in the rate of increase of body weight or the daily mean tumor volumes when compared with dietary 18:2 level. Fatty acid composition of the tumor, particularly the level of 18:2, was significantly altered by diet. This study demonstrates that while the level of dietary 18:2 does not enhance the growth rate of primary 4526 tumors and does or does not affect the latency depending on the primary site, it does significantly alter the metastasis. These results stress the importance of metastasis assessment in future studies involving dietary fat effects on tumorigenesis.

Dietary fat modulation of murine mammary tumor metabolism studied by in vivo 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The effect of dietary fat concentration and saturation on high energy phosphate metabolites and phospholipid turnover in transplanted line 168 murine mammary tumors was studied using surface coil 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Female BALB/c mice were fed one of five diets each containing at least the minimum of essential fatty acids (EFA). Four diets contained additional safflower or palm oil for a total fat concentration of 5 or 20% by weight. The growth rate of tumors from mice fed the high safflower oil diet was significantly greater than the growth rate of tumors for mice fed all other diets including the one which contained the minimal EFA. 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance-observable phosphate metabolite ratios. ATP/Pi, ATP/phosphomonoester (ATP/PME), and PME/Pi, and tumor pH of line 168 tumors decreased with increasing tumor volume, indicating a shift from active to inactive tumor metabolism. The rates of those decreases with progressive tumor growth differed significantly among tumors of mice fed the different diets. Decreases in ATP/Pi, ATP/PME, and pH were the most rapid in the tumors of mice fed the high safflower oil diet and significantly faster than tumors of mice fed the diet containing minimum EFA. In addition, the decrease in the PME/Pi ratio of tumors was significantly greater in mice fed the high fat (high palm oil and high safflower oil) diets than mice fed the diet containing the minimum of EFA. The rate of decline of ATP/Pi and ATP/PME with progressive tumor growth was directly correlated with levels of linoleic acid as well as total unsaturated fat. High levels of a polyunsaturated fat had a significant effect on mammary tumor metabolism particularly during early stages of tumor growth. Differences in high energy phosphate metabolite dynamics relative to dietary fat were present in tumors of equal volume. Thus, dietary fat influences on mammary tumorigenesis may be related to high energy phosphate metabolites.

Linoleic acid metabolism in metastatic and nonmetastatic murine mammary tumor cells.

The mechanism(s) by which dietary linoleic acid (18:2n-6) enhances mammary tumor growth and metastasis is not known. Since arachidonic acid (20:4n-6)-derived prostaglandins (PG) may play a role in the metastatic dissemination of tumor cells, the ability of two murine mammary tumor cell lines, 4526 (metastasis positive) and line 168 (spontaneous metastasis negative), to convert 18:2n-6 into prostaglandins was examined. Cells were initially incubated with [14C]18:2n-6 and after 8-24 h the [14C]fatty acids were quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography following transesterification. [14C]18:2n-6 was metabolized primarily to [14C]dihomogammalinolenic acid (20:3n-6) in line 4526 cells and [14C]20:4n-6 in line 168 cells. Examination of cellular fatty acid levels revealed a 20:3n-6/20:4n-6 ratio of 1.79 +/- 0.36 and 0.20 +/- 0.02 in line 4526 and 168 cells, respectively. These data are consistent with an inherently lower delta 5 desaturase activity in line 4526 relative to 168. To assess the metabolism of 18:2n-6 into eicosanoid products, the cell lines were prelabeled with [14C]18:2n-6 or 0-40 microM nonradiolabeled 18:2n-6 overnight and subsequently stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187 for 1 h. Total PGE production, as determined by radioimmunoassay, was greater in 168 relative to 4526 cells at all 18:2n-6 concentrations. 14C-prostaglandins detected by high-performance liquid chromatography and argentation thin-layer chromatography were: PGF1 alpha and PGE1 (derived from 20:3n-6) and PGF2 alpha and PGE 2 (derived from 20:4n-6) from line 4526; PGE1 and PGE2 from line 168. PGE1/PGE2 ratios were 1.43 +/- 0.07 and 0.23 +/- 0.03 for 4526 and 168 lines, respectively. Neither cell line synthesized lipoxygenase products following [14C]18:2n-6 or [3H]-20:4n-6 incubations under the conditions employed. Additional studies are warranted in order to define the biological properties of 1- and 2-series cyclooxygenase products as they relate to tumor cell metastasis.

Activation of tumoricidal properties in human blood monocytes by liposomes containing lipophilic muramyl tripeptide.

Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from normal human donors by separation on a continuous Percoll gradient and adherence to yield preparations of blood monocytes with a high degree of purity (greater than 99%). The monocytes were incubated in vitro with medium alone or with multilamellar liposomes that contained either a lipophilic derivative of muramyl dipeptide, muramyl tripeptide (MTP-PE), or medium. The cytotoxic properties of the monocytes were assessed by an in vitro radioisotope release assay against various allogeneic targets. Monocytes that have phagocytosed liposomes containing MTP-PE were rendered tumoricidal. These monocytes lysed cells of three different tumorigenic lines but not cells of two nontumorigenic lines. The ability of MTP-PE-activated human blood monocytes to recognize and selectively lyse neoplastic cells was also demonstrated under cocultivation conditions. We conclude that human blood monocytes can be rendered tumoricidal after interaction with liposomes containing MTP-PE.

Utilization of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid) by murine peritoneal macrophages.

This study examined the metabolism of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (20:3(n-6] in casein-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages. Cells were incubated with [14C]20:3(n-6) in the presence of 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or 0.025% bovine serum albumin (BSA), and the distribution and identity of membrane-bound and soluble products were determined. Approx. 70-80% of the [14C]20:3(n-6) was recovered in membrane phospholipids. The distribution of radiolabel in individual cellular phospholipids revealed a time-dependent (6 vs. 16 h) increase in the percentage of radiolabel esterified to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Analysis of cellular total lipids following transmethylation indicated that approx. 4, 2 and 9% of the incorporated 20:3(n-6), respectively, had been desaturated and elongated into 20:4(n-6), 22:4(n-6) and 22:3(n-6). When cells prelabeled for 16 h were incubated in the presence of the divalent cation ionophore, A23187, or zymosan for 30-60 min, two radiolabeled metabolites were isolated in the incubation supernatant. These metabolites were identified as 12-hydroxy-8,10,14- and 15-hydroxy-8,11,13-eicosatrienoic acids, as determined by reverse-phase and normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The generation of monohydroxy fatty acids was notably absent in prelabeled quiescent cells and A23187-stimulated cells incubated with BW755C, a dual cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitor. We conclude that casein-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages can extensively metabolize 20:3(n-6) through delta 5-desaturase, elongase and oxygenation reactions.

Inductive electron-withdrawal from ammonium ion headgroups of cationic lipids and the influence on DNA transfection.

We have prepared a panel of lipidic ammonium tetrafluoroborate salts that contain trifluoromethyl, trichloromethyl, and methyl groups attached to the headgroup. 19F-NMR analyses of the cationic lipid panel revealed that the differences in electron-withdrawal from the ammonium ion headgroup accounted for differences in ion-pairing. Exchange of the tetrafluoroborate counterion by complexation to DNA-phosphate of a reporter gene enabled us to probe the influence of inductive electron-withdrawal in cationic lipid-mediated DNA transfection. We tested the lipid panel for transfection activity in two cell lines. The results indicate that the inductive effects of electron-withdrawing functionality diminish transfection activity in modest (2-4-fold) increments. The present study suggests that the mechanism whereby poly(alcohol)- or poly(ether)-substituted headgroups improve DNA transfection is not based on electronic activation of the ammonium ion.

Effects of in vitro exposure to arachidonic acid on TNF-alpha production by murine peritoneal macrophages.

Modifying the fatty acid composition of macrophages through diet can significantly alter some of their functions, such as tumoricidal capacity and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production. The mechanism of that modification, however, is unknown. In this report, we provide evidence that fatty acids added to macrophages in culture can significantly alter macrophage TNF-alpha production. For example when inflammatory macrophages were incubated with various doses of arachidonic acid [20:4(n-6)] during activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we observed a dose-dependent decrease in the level of bioactive TNF-alpha with complete inhibition at 2-5 microM. This inhibition was specific for 20:4(n-6) because in vitro treatment with other fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic [20:5(n-3)] or docosahexaenoic [22:6(n-3)] acids, had differential effects. The inhibitory action of 20:4(n-6) did not involve toxicity because cell viability was not affected and in vitro interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation of macrophages for killing of P815 tumor targets was not altered. Inhibition by 20:4(n-6) occurred posttranscriptionally, and could be reversed when macrophages were treated with indomethacin during activation. Arachidonic acid treatment also significantly increased the production of immunoreactive prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by LPS-treated and untreated macrophages. These results suggest that in vitro treatment of macrophages with 20:4(n-6) may inhibit TNF-alpha production through an alteration in the levels of PGE2 at a posttranscriptional level. These results provide evidence that some dietary fats may affect macrophage activity through modification of eicosanoid synthesis.

Effect of dietary fish oil on development and selected functions of murine inflammatory macrophages.

Inflammatory macrophages from mice fed diets containing menhaden fish oil (MFO) have a reduced capacity for cytotoxicity of mastocytoma cells upon activation with interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) and lipopolysaccharide due to an altered responsiveness to IFN gamma. In an effort to elucidate further how dietary MFO effects macrophage function, we have studied the maturation of inflammatory macrophages from mice fed MFO compared with mice fed safflower oil (SFO) using several processes that serve as markers of the activational state. No significant differences in the recruitment or percentage of peritoneal exudate cells as macrophages after thioglycollate injection and no differences in spreading, binding, or phagocytosis of sheep erythrocytes or phagocytosis of yeast by inflammatory macrophages were observed when the dietary groups were compared. However, MFO macrophages had an altered capacity for peroxide release when stimulated with unopsonized zymosan (10-200 micrograms/ml). Furthermore, to elucidate how MFO feeding could alter IFN gamma-induced responses of inflammatory macrophages, we assessed phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced hydrogen peroxide production and expression of class II MHC determinants (Ia). There were no differences between macrophages from mice fed the two diets with respect to the production of peroxide when they were preincubated with 0.1-10 U/ml of IFN gamma. However, MFO macrophages had greater peroxide production after enhancement with 100 U/ml of IFN gamma. With respect to Ia induction, the percentage of macrophages responding to IFN gamma was not altered by diet, and there were no differences in expression of Ia induced by 24 hr exposure to IFN gamma. Thus the differential effect of MFO compared with SFO is probably mediated not by an alteration in the maturation of inflammatory macrophages but rather through the alteration of IFN gamma-induced functions such as peroxide production.

Induction and modulation of macrophage Ia antigen expression by platelet-activating factor.

Expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, Ia, can be significantly augmented by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in macrophages. In this study we demonstrate that platelet-activating factor (PAF) was also a potent inducer of Ia antigen expression on macrophages. PAF-induced Ia expression was both time- and dose-dependent. Maximal Ia expression was induced with 25 nM PAF after 3-h exposure to PAF. Ia expression in macrophages stimulated with PAF for 24 h was not significantly greater than unstimulated macrophages. Treatment of macrophages with IFN-gamma and PAF did not affect either the kinetics or concentration required for maximal Ia expression induced by either IFN-gamma or PAF. PAF-induced Ia expression was inhibited by the specific PAF receptor antagonists, WEB 2086, Ro 24-0238, and Ro 24-4637, indicating a receptor-mediated event. Like IFN-gamma-induced Ia expression, PAF activity was inhibited by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). However, that expression was only inhibited after 24 h when macrophages were treated with the PGE2 synthesis inhibitors, flurbiprofen and indomethacin. These findings demonstrate that PAF, along with its role as a potent proinflammatory mediator, was also capable of inducing Ia expression on macrophages through the PAF receptor and that expression was altered by PGE2.

Withanolide E sensitizes renal carcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by increasing cFLIP degradation.

Withanolide E, a steroidal lactone from Physalis peruviana, was found to be highly active for sensitizing renal carcinoma cells and a number of other human cancer cells to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis. Withanolide E, the most potent and least toxic of five TRAIL-sensitizing withanolides identified, enhanced death receptor-mediated apoptotic signaling by a rapid decline in the levels of cFLIP proteins. Other mechanisms by which TRAIL sensitizers have been reported to work: generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), changes in pro-and antiapoptotic protein expression, death receptor upregulation, activation of intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptotic pathways, ER stress, and proteasomal inhibition proved to be irrelevant to withanolide E activity. Loss of cFLIP proteins was not due to changes in expression, but rather destabilization and/or aggregation, suggesting impairment of chaperone proteins leading to degradation. Indeed, withanolide E treatment altered the stability of a number of HSP90 client proteins, but with greater apparent specificity than the well-known HSP90 inhibitor geldanamycin. As cFLIP has been reported to be an HSP90 client, this provides a potentially novel mechanism for sensitizing cells to TRAIL. Sensitization of human renal carcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by withanolide E and its lack of toxicity were confirmed in animal studies. Owing to its novel activity, withanolide E is a promising reagent for the analysis of mechanisms of TRAIL resistance, for understanding HSP90 function, and for further therapeutic development. In marked contrast to bortezomib, among the best currently available TRAIL sensitizers, withanolide E's more specific mechanism of action suggests minimal toxic side effects.

The induction of melanogenesis by ultraviolet light in the pigmentary system of Rhesus monkeys.

Except for the face, eyelids, friction surfaces, and lips, the epidermis of the rhesus monkey contains no discernible melanocytes. After ultraviolet irradiation, however, dopa-positive dendritic cells appeared. With daily sequential irradiation, the number of histochemically demonstrable dopa-positive dendritic cells peaked after 30 exposures, then declined to a basal level which was maintained for the duration of the experiment (216 exposures or 43 weeks). Pigment cells can be restimulated by shading part of the irradiated area and then reirradiating after 3 months. While shaded, dopa-positive cells disappeared; but when reirradiated, they reappeared, increased, then declined again to a basal level. These melanocytes, unlike those in other primates, require high threshold levels of irradiation to produce a response, have a definite period during which they are active, and transfer very little melanin to the surrounding keratinocytes. Long-term ultraviolet irradiation has no discernible effect on dermal pigment-containing cells.

The effect of MSH on thymidine incorporation by keratinocytes in the epidermal melanin unit.

Epidermal melanocytes were observed in the black but not in the white skin of black-and-white spotted guinea pigs. In experiments designed to determine whether melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) affects the incorporation of thymidine by kerationcyte nuclei of the epidermal melanin unit, the labeling index was the same in all skin before MSH administration. After MSH injections, the level of (3H)thymidine incorporation in keratinocytes increased significantly in black skin but not in white. We suggest that through the mediation of melanocytes MSH indirectly afffects keratinocytes in the epidermal melanin unit.

Inherited 7S immunoglobulin deficiency of chickens is associated with bursal degeneration anomalies.

Partially inbred line UCD 140 chickens develop an age dependent inherited 7S immunoglobulin deficiency with features similar to acquired human agammaglobulinemia. Serial and developmental observations in line UCD 140 and control lines 440 and 444 reveal a significant progressive premature involution of the bursa of Fabricius. These bursal changes are characterized by epithelial and medullary degeneration, reduced follicular bursacyte mitosis, and decreased follicular plasma cells. These abnormalities have not been previously described in other avian systems and suggest that this immune deficiency is due to a primary bursal disease.

Influence of dietary fats on cell populations of line 168 mouse mammary tumors: a morphometric and ultrastructural study.

The effect of dietary fat concentration and saturation on cell composition and structure of line 168 mouse mammary tumors in vivo was studied using morphometry and electron microscopy. Both the concentration and saturation of fat fed to mice had a significant influence on the volume ratio of mast cells infiltrating line 168 tumors. Tumors of mice fed diets containing a high concentration (20%) of either safflower oil (SO) or palm oil (PO) had 2-3 times the volume ratio of mast cells than mice fed diets containing a low concentration (5%) of either fat. There were no significant differences among diets with respect to other inflammatory cell populations. Mice fed either one of the high fat diets had tumor cells with inclusions that ultrastructurally, appeared to consist of lipid. Dietary fat, however, had no observable affect on cell junctions or other morphological characteristics. Greater infiltration of mast cells in tumors of mice fed high fat diets and the eventual formation of new blood capillaries may explain the decreased latency of tumor onset and enhanced growth of tumors in mice fed diets with high concentrations of fat.

Effect of dietary linoleic acid level on lodgement, proliferation and survival of mammary tumor metastases.

High levels of dietary linoleic acid (18:2) have been shown to increase the spontaneous metastasis of line 4526 mouse mammary tumors. In this report, the influence of 18:2 on specific events of tumor metastasis, namely, lodgement, proliferation and survival, were studied using spontaneous and experimental metastasis assays with line 4526 cells. A significantly greater number of radiolabeled tumor cells lodged in the lungs of mice fed 4, 8 and 12% 18:2 when compared with mice fed lower levels of 18:2. The effect of dietary 18:2 appeared to be on the host tissue (lungs) and not the tumor cells. Lodgement of tumor cells first cultured in serum of mice fed 18:2 then injected into mice fed 1% 18:2 was not affected. There were no significant differences in the percentage of [3H]thymidine labeled metastatic cells from lungs of mice fed different levels of 18:2. However, the number of surface lung nodules that appeared in mice 21 days after injection of unlabeled line 4526 cells increased in mice fed 8 and 12% 18:2 compared with those fed lower levels of 18:2. Thus, dietary 18:2 may increase metastasis by influencing the lodgement, implantation and survival but not proliferation of line 4526 mouse mammary tumor cells.

Relationship of the uptake and beta-oxidation of 18-carbon fatty acids with stimulation of murine mammary tumor cell growth.

The effects of stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1) and linoleic (18:2) acid on the in vitro growth of murine mammary tumor cell line 4526 were compared to 4526 uptake and beta-oxidation of those fatty acids. Both 18:1 and 18:2 stimulated, while 18:0 inhibited growth. Likewise, uptake and oxidation rates were much lower for 18:0 than for 18:1 and 18:2. The influence of glucose, insulin and fatty acid-depletion on 4526 fatty acid incorporation and oxidation was also determined. The correlation between effects on in vitro growth and ability to assimilate 18:0, 18:1 and 18:2 may partially explain the stimulation by unsaturated and inhibition by saturated fatty acids of in vivo 4526 tumorigenesis.