Effects of Trans and CIS Isomers of Oleic and Linoleic Acids on Platelets and Endothelial Cells

Abstract

The role of trans isomers of fatty acids in the development of coronary heart disease has been questioned. Hwang and Kinsella (l) indicated that feeding of trans linoleate to rats caused decreased serum prostaglandins. We report the effect of trans isomers of oleic and linoleic acids on platelet aggregation (PA). No significant differences were observed in collagen- and ADP-induced PA in platelet rich plasma preincubated with the various fatty acids bound to albumin for 90 min. When the albumin bound fatty acids were incubated with primary cultures of human endothelial cells (ECM) and PRP for a similar periode of time, significant differences in PA were observed with ADP but not with collagen. PA was higher for the trans isomer than for the cis isomer of linoleic acid. This difference disappeared when the ECM were preincubated for 15 minutes with indomethacin. We suggest that endothelial cells could synthesize prostacyclin (PGI2) from cis isomer of linoleic acid but not from the trans isomer.