18] Measurement of inflammatory properties of fatty acids in human endothelial cells

Abstract

Publisher Summary The chapter focuses on dietary fatty acid-induced proinflammatory pathways mediated by the induction of oxidative stress, activation of redox-regulated transcription factors, and the inflammatory genes. Fatty acids can modulate inflammatory responses in numerous tissues, including the vascular endothelium. At least two different independent pathways can be responsible for these effects. These pathways are linked to either eicosanoid production or redox-regulated gene expression. Traditionally, lipid-mediated cellular inflammatory reactions have been linked to the release of arachidonic acid from the cellular membranes, activation of cyclooxygenases, and lipoxygenases with the subsequent overproduction of eicosanoids. The chapter describes several methods that determined that treatment of human endothelial cells with selected dietary fatty acids can induce oxidative stress, decrease cellular glutathione content, activate redox-responsive transcription factors, and induce expression of the inflammatory mediators, such as MCP-1, inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α), and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1). Treatment with linoleic acid induced the most significant oxidative stress, alterations of cellular redox status, and induction of inflammatory genes.