Incorporation of exogenous fatty acids into phospholipids by cultured hamster fibroblasts. Effect of SV40 transformation

Comparison of the effects of dimyristoyl and soya phosphatidylcholine liposomes on human fibroblasts

The in vitro effects of prolonged exposure (8 days) of human skin fibroblasts to several concentrations of extruded dimyristoyl (dm-PC) and soya phosphatidylcholine (soya-PC) liposomes were compared. Prepared liposome suspensions were added to the fibroblast culture medium at phospholipid concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 200, and 300 microM. Survival curves and values of 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and area under the curve (AUC) were used to compare the response of the fibroblasts to the two types of liposomes. The effect of the incorporation of vitamin E in the liposomal preparations also was determined. Fibroblasts showed greater sensitivity toward the soya-PC liposomes (IC50 = 150 microM) than the dm-PC liposomes (IC50 = 212 microM). The presence of vitamin E in the soya-PC liposomes led to a 1.9-fold increase in the IC50, while dm-PC liposomes containing vitamin E showed an IC50 that was 1.1 times higher than that shown by control vitamin-free liposomes. Soya-PC liposomes containing vitamin E at a molar ratio of 10:0.5 (phospholipid:vitamin) were best tolerated by the fibroblasts (IC50 > 300 microM). It would appear that dm-PC liposomes are better tolerated by fibroblasts than those composed of soya-PC. However, the incorporation of vitamin E into the liposomes seems to reverse this effect, and it is the vitamin-containing soya-PC liposomes that are most compatible with the growth of fibroblasts in culture.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid enrichment enhances endothelial cell-induced low-density-lipoprotein peroxidation

Oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is an important feature in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. LDL modification by endothelial cells was studied after supplementation of the cells with oleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the n-6 and n-3 series. In terms of the lipid peroxidation product [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)] content and diene level of the LDL particle, oleic acid had no significant effect, and linoleic acid was poorly effective. Gamma linolenic acid (C18:3,n-6) and arachidonic acid (C20:4,n-6) increased by about 1.6-1.9-fold the cell-mediated LDL modification. PUFA from the n-3 series, alpha linolenic acid (C18:3,n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5,n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6,n-3), induced a less marked effect (1. 3-1.6-fold increase). The relative electrophoretic mobility of the LDL particle and its degradation by macrophages were enhanced in parallel. Concomitantly, PUFA stimulated superoxide anion secretion by endothelial cells. The intracellular TBARS content was also increased by PUFA. Comparison of PUFA from the two series indicates a good correlation between LDL oxidative modification, superoxide anion secretion and intracellular lipid peroxidation. The lipophilic antioxidant vitamin E decreased the basal as well as the PUFA-stimulated LDL peroxidation. These results indicate that PUFAs with a high degree of unsaturation of the n-6 and n-3 series could accelerate cell-mediated LDL peroxidation and thus aggravate the atherosclerotic process.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid enrichment increases ultraviolet A-induced lipid peroxidation in NCTC 2544 human keratinocytes

The influence of cell enrichment with fatty acids with increasing degree of unsaturation on the ultraviolet A-induced formation of lipid-peroxidation products (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS]) has been investigated in NCTC 2544 human keratinocytes. A 48-h preculture of cells in controlled medium supplemented with unsaturated fatty acids resulted in a marked increase in TBARS appearance under ultraviolet A exposure. This effect was dependent upon the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acids, with the following order of efficiency: arachidonic > linolenic > linoleic > oleic acid. For arachidonic acid (AA), the potentiating effect on ultraviolet A-induced lipid peroxidation was dependent upon the fatty acid concentration, with about a 2.5-fold increase in TBARS formation in cells pre-cultured with 5 x 10(-5) M AA, then exposed to a UVA dose of 13 J/cm2. The increase in TBARS formation by AA was almost totally prevented by supplementation of cells with 5 x 10(-5) M vitamin E, whereas buthionine sulfoximine, a chemical which depletes cell glutathione, potentiated lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that the nature of the fatty acids of cellular lipids could influence the response of keratinocytes to ultraviolet A, and especially the ultraviolet A-induced lipid peroxidation.

Inhibition of diphosphatidylglycerol synthesis by u.v. A radiations in N.C.T.C. 2544 human keratinocytes

The effects of u.v. A radiations on phospholipid synthesis were studied in the N.C.T.C. 2544 human keratinocyte cell line, by using [14C]arachidonic acid, [14C]oleic acid or sodium [32P]orthophosphate as precursors. Cells were irradiated in Hanks' medium with 365 nm light at doses up to 19 J/cm2, and then phospholipid synthesis from the three precursors was studied. Under these conditions, only small alterations in the incorporation pattern of [14C]arachidonic into phospholipids [phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol (PI)] were observed, for u.v. A irradiation doses up to 19 J/cm2. In contrast, with [14C]oleic acid as precursor, two additional spots were observed, which co-migrate with pure phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) standards. The incorporation of [14C]oleic acid into PG and DPG was decreased in a dose-dependent manner after u.v. A exposure, with about 50% and 75% decreases at 9.5 J/cm2 and 19 J/cm2 respectively. As for arachidonic acid incorporation, no significant differences in the synthesis of the major phospholipids (PC, PE, PI) were noted upon u.v. A exposure. The dramatic and selective decrease in PG and DPG syntheses was confirmed with [32P]orthophosphate as precursor. As DPG is a specific component of the mitochondrial inner membrane, it appears that one of the early kinds of damage induced by u.v. A irradiation could be the impairment of mitochondrial functions.

Photosensitization by Photofrin II delivered to WI26VA4 SV40-transformed human fibroblasts by low density lipoproteins: inhibition of lipid synthesis and fatty acid uptake

Irradiation with 365 nm light of Wi26VA4 SV40-transformed human fibroblasts cultured for 24 h in the presence of low density lipoproteins loaded with the anticancer porphyrin mixture Photofrin II resulted in a near complete inhibition of [14C]oleic acid incorporation into triacylglycerols, cholesteryl esters and phospholipids. More than 80% reduction of the fatty acid incorporation in all lipid classes was observed following an irradiation dose of 1 J/cm2. The activities of the respective acyltransferases, measured in vitro on cell homogenates, were also markedly diminished, but to a lesser extent than lipid synthesis from oleic acid. Moreover, oleic acid uptake by cells was strongly and rapidly reduced. It is suggested that the rapid inhibition of membrane phospholipid synthesis upon cell photosensitization, due to both a direct inactivation of acyltransferases and to a reduction of fatty acid utilization, could play an important role in the photocytotoxic effect of Photofrin II.

Trifluoperazine increases fatty acid turnover in phospholipids in cultured human fibroblasts

A 24-hr pretreatment of cultured human fibroblasts with trifluoperazine induced a marked increase in incorporation of saturated (stearic, palmitic) and unsaturated (oleic, arachidonic) fatty acids into phospholipids (1.5- to 2-fold for 5.10(-5) M trifluoperazine). Concomitantly, incorporation into cholesteryl esters was strongly inhibited (20% of control for 5.10(-5) M trifluoperazine). The drug did not change the phospholipid composition of treated cells. The effect of trifluoperazine on oleic acid incorporation into phospholipids was time-dependent and reached a maximum after a six-hr preincubation with the drug. Trifluoperazine also induced an increase in the rate of chase of oleic acid from the different phospholipid classes. In vitro preincubation of cell-free extracts with trifluoperazine resulted in activation of phospholipid acyltransferases, whereas cholesterol acyltransferase activity was decreased. The rapid effect of trifluoperazine together with its effect on a cell-free system suggests a direct action of this amphiphilic drug on the acyltransferase activities, probably by modification of the structural organization of cellular membranes.

Influence of environmental medium on fatty acid composition of human cells: leukocytes and fibroblasts

Fibroblasts in culture and leukocytes have been widely used to study fatty acid and lipoprotein cellular metabolism. The present investigations were designed to study the role of nutritional and environmental factors on lipid metabolism in these two types of cells. Leukocytes freshly isolated from human blood and fibroblasts cultured in media enriched in human serum (HS) have relatively similar fatty acid distributions. However, more important differences are observed in fibroblasts cultured in media enriched with HS or with fetal bovine serum (FBS). It is obvious that the quantity and quality of fatty acids are very different in FBS and HS, but intracellular regulation ensures relative homogeneity of saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in the cells, particularly in phospholipids. The first modifications induced by different media (FBS or HS) are detected on cellular growth; the differences seem to be due more to the fatty acid (FA) quantitative supply than to the FA quality of each culture medium. The major modifications in FA composition induced by different culture media concern the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of phospholipids, especially the n-6 family. The intracellular linoleic acid level depends on the level in the medium, but intracellular n-6 metabolite levels depend both on the level in the medium and on the growth state of the cells. The n-3 family seems to be less affected by the quality of the medium in our experiment, and the cells maintain a stable docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) level. A higher content of the n-3 family in the medium induces a higher level of eicosa- or docosapentaenoic acid, rather than docosahexaenoic acid itself.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)