Effects of Flaxseed and Its Components on Mammary Gland MiRNome: Identification of Potential Biomarkers to Prevent Breast Cancer Development.

Amel Taibi,Zhen Lin,Lilian U Thompson,Rong Tsao,Elena M Comelli

doi:10.3390/nu11112656

Amel Taibi, Zhen Lin + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11112656

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Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. We previously showed that early-life exposure to flaxseed (FS) or its components, FS oil (FSO) and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), affects the mammary gland (MG) and is associated with the reduction of breast cancer risk during adulthood. However, the underlying mechanisms are not understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of FS, FSO, and SDG on the MG miRNA signature at a late stage of development. Female C57BL/6 mice, 4–5 weeks of age, were randomized into four groups to receive: (i) basal AIN-93G, (ii) 10% FS, (iii) 3.67% FSO, or (iv) 0.15% SDG. After 21 days, the mice were sacrificed and MG miRNAs were profiled. Diet-specific MG miRNA signatures were identified. Deregulated miRNAs were associated with breast cancer and targeted genes involved in MG development, growth, and cancer. The study allowed for the identification of potential biomarkers or novel therapeutic targets to prevent and/or reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Highlights

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in female patients after lung cancer [1,2].much research is being conducted for its prevention and treatment, including the role of diet.Because of its unique composition, flaxseed (FS) has been studied for its effect on breast cancer.Flaxseed (FS; Linum usitatissimum) is an oilseed containing approximately 40% oil (FSO), more than half of which is the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), the highest level of the dietary phytoestrogen lignan, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) (~1%), and approximately 30%dietary fiber [4]
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of exposing female C57BL/6 mice to 10% FS, as well as FS oil (FSO) or SDG found at the level in 10% FS, during mammary gland (MG) development on MG miRNA expression signature and to identify potential targets to prevent breast cancer development during adulthood
Serum concentrations of END, ENL, and SECO were detectable in the FS and SDG groups but not in the BD and FSO groups (Table S4)

Summary

Introduction

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in female patients after lung cancer [1,2].much research is being conducted for its prevention and treatment, including the role of diet.Because of its unique composition, flaxseed (FS) has been studied for its effect on breast cancer (reviewed in [3]).Flaxseed (FS; Linum usitatissimum) is an oilseed containing approximately 40% oil (FSO), more than half of which is the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), the highest level of the dietary phytoestrogen lignan, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) (~1%), and approximately 30%dietary fiber [4]. Much research is being conducted for its prevention and treatment, including the role of diet. Because of its unique composition, flaxseed (FS) has been studied for its effect on breast cancer (reviewed in [3]). Flaxseed (FS; Linum usitatissimum) is an oilseed containing approximately 40% oil (FSO), more than half of which is the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), the highest level of the dietary phytoestrogen lignan, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) (~1%), and approximately 30%. Due to the elevated contents of ALA, FSO is considered to be an anti-inflammatory agent, while the lignan components have documented anti-oxidant and estrogenic/anti-estrogenic activities. Dietary fiber is generally recognized as having many beneficial effects, including modulation of the gut microbiota with the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) [5]

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