The effects of saturated fatty acids on endothelial cells

Abstract

The present study reports on the effects of myristic(14:0), palmitic(16:0) and stearic(18:0) acids separately and combined with linoleic(18:2n-6), arachidonic(20:4n-6) and eicosapentaenoic(20:5n-3) acids on cultured human endothelial cell monolayers(ECM). The cell viability determined by trypan blue exclusion study, the release of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and 6-keto-PGF1 a into the medium from ECM incubated with albumin bound fatty acids(FA) were measured. The cell viability was reduced and the release of LDH from ECM was enhanced by 18:0(0.2mM, ratio 1, 2 and 4) and 16:0(0.4mM, ratio 2), but not by 14:0, or the unsaturated FA. The reduced cell viability induced by 18:0 was completely inhibited by polyunsaturated FA, 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6 and 20:5n-3. The release of 6-keto-PGF1α was increased by 18:0, but not by 14:0 and 16:0. All three saturated FA potentiated 6-keto-PGF1 α production induced by 20:4n-6. Combined with 18:2n-6 or 20:5n-3, they also stimulated 6-keto-PGF1 α production. This study indicates that the three main dietary SFA, 18:0, 16:0 and 14:0 do not have the same effects on ECM. The damaging effect on endothelial cells induced by 18:0 and 16:0 may be of significance for the thrombogenic effects related to these saturated fatty acids.