Biomaterial Database

Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on plasma membrane fluidity of aortic endothelial cells. 1999

M Hashimoto, and S Hossain, and H Yamasaki, and K Yazawa, and S Masumura

Department of Physiology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan. michiol@shimane-med.ac.jp

We investigated the relative effects of n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) on the plasma membrane fluidity of endothelial cells (EC) cultured from the thoracic aorta by determining fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and its cationic derivative trimethylamino-DPH (TMA-DPH). Fluidity assessed by TMA-DPH demonstrated no significant differences in plasma membranes of vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide; DMSO)-, EPA-, and DHA-treated EC. Plasma membrane fluidity assessed by DPH polarization, however, was significantly higher in the order of DHA > EPA > DMSO. Total cholesterol content decreased significantly by 28.4 and 15.9% in the plasma membranes of DHA- and EPA-treated cells, respectively. Total phospholipid content remained unaltered in the plasma membranes of the three groups of cells; however, the molar ratio of total cholesterol to phospholipid decreased significantly only in the membranes of DHA-treated EC. The unsaturation index in the plasma membranes of EPA- and DHA-treated cells increased by 35.7 and 64.3%, respectively, compared with that in the plasma membranes of control cells. The activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the whole-cell homogenates, and levels of lipid peroxides in either the whole-cell homogenates or in plasma membrane fractions were not altered in EPA- or DHA-treated EC. These results indicate that the influence of DHA is greater than that of EPA in increasing plasma membrane fluidity of vascular EC. We speculate that the greater effect of DHA compared to EPA is due to its greater ability to decrease membrane cholesterol content or the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio, or both, and also to its greater ability in elevating the unsaturation index in the plasma membranes of EC.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008054	Lipid Peroxides	Peroxides produced in the presence of a free radical by the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in the cell in the presence of molecular oxygen. The formation of lipid peroxides results in the destruction of the original lipid leading to the loss of integrity of the membranes. They therefore cause a variety of toxic effects in vivo and their formation is considered a pathological process in biological systems. Their formation can be inhibited by antioxidants, such as vitamin E, structural separation or low oxygen tension.	Fatty Acid Hydroperoxide,Lipid Peroxide,Lipoperoxide,Fatty Acid Hydroperoxides,Lipid Hydroperoxide,Lipoperoxides,Acid Hydroperoxide, Fatty,Acid Hydroperoxides, Fatty,Hydroperoxide, Fatty Acid,Hydroperoxide, Lipid,Hydroperoxides, Fatty Acid,Peroxide, Lipid,Peroxides, Lipid
D008560	Membrane Fluidity	The motion of phospholipid molecules within the lipid bilayer, dependent on the classes of phospholipids present, their fatty acid composition and degree of unsaturation of the acyl chains, the cholesterol concentration, and temperature.	Bilayer Fluidity,Bilayer Fluidities,Fluidities, Bilayer,Fluidities, Membrane,Fluidity, Bilayer,Fluidity, Membrane,Membrane Fluidities
D010743	Phospholipids	Lipids containing one or more phosphate groups, particularly those derived from either glycerol (phosphoglycerides see GLYCEROPHOSPHOLIPIDS) or sphingosine (SPHINGOLIPIDS). They are polar lipids that are of great importance for the structure and function of cell membranes and are the most abundant of membrane lipids, although not stored in large amounts in the system.	Phosphatides,Phospholipid
D002374	Catalase	An oxidoreductase that catalyzes the conversion of HYDROGEN PEROXIDE to water and oxygen. It is present in many animal cells. A deficiency of this enzyme results in ACATALASIA.	Catalase A,Catalase T,Manganese Catalase,Mn Catalase
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D002784	Cholesterol	The principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils.	Epicholesterol
D004161	Diphenylhexatriene	A fluorescent compound that emits light only in specific configurations in certain lipid media. It is used as a tool in the study of membrane lipids.	1,6-Diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene,1,6-Diphenylhexatriene,1,6 Diphenylhexatriene
D004281	Docosahexaenoic Acids	C22-unsaturated fatty acids found predominantly in FISH OILS.	Docosahexaenoate,Docosahexaenoic Acid,Docosahexenoic Acids,Docosahexaenoic Acid (All-Z Isomer),Docosahexaenoic Acid Dimer (All-Z Isomer),Docosahexaenoic Acid, 3,6,9,12,15,18-Isomer,Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-(All-Z-Isomer),Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-(All-Z-Isomer), Cerium Salt,Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-(All-Z-Isomer), Cesium Salt,Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-(All-Z-Isomer), Potassium Salt,Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-(Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,E-Isomer),Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-Isomer,Docosahexaenoic Acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-Isomer, Sodium Salt,Docosahexaenoic Acid, Sodium Salt,Acid, Docosahexaenoic,Acids, Docosahexaenoic,Acids, Docosahexenoic
D004730	Endothelium, Vascular	Single pavement layer of cells which line the luminal surface of the entire vascular system and regulate the transport of macromolecules and blood components.	Capillary Endothelium,Vascular Endothelium,Capillary Endotheliums,Endothelium, Capillary,Endotheliums, Capillary,Endotheliums, Vascular,Vascular Endotheliums