Cell membrane models with saturated phosphatidylcholine vs. unsaturated phosphatidylcholine

[tasfarelel]

Just came across this study:

Interactions between curcumin and cell membrane models by Langmuir monolayers

Studying interactions between potential anticancer drugs and cell membrane models is of great interest to explore the capability of novel drugs in the…

www.sciencedirect.com

For me, this is the first clear statement I read in which unsaturated lipids are linked to cancer.

 

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The most remarkable result is the evidence of strong destabilization of the tumor cell membrane model by Cur, which is not evidenced in the healthy cell membrane model. The presence of Cur in the healthy cell membrane model improves its cohesion. Conversely, the presence of Cur in cancerous cell model membrane seems to impart repulsive forces in the monolayer causing thermodynamic destabilization and fluidizing. Results presented here indicate that Cur disrupts to a larger extent the tumor cell membrane model (composed of a lower proportion of cholesterol and an unsaturated lipid) than the healthy cell membrane model (with a higher concentration of cholesterol and a saturated lipid). Findings from this study on model membranes provide a better understanding of the action mechanisms of anti-cancer compound on cell membranes. This study might be helpful to improve transport of bioactives through the lipid bilayer in cell membranes which can improve current anti-cancer treatments.

Could by why studies on curcumin are so mixed, some show positive effects while some show no effect. The stabilizing effect is probably relatively useless in healthy people (many things can stabilize cells), the dose required to have a significant effect on cancerous cells is probably pretty high, far below the dose most people take.