Biomaterial Database

Regulation of tight junction permeability and occludin expression by polyunsaturated fatty acids. 1998

W G Jiang, and R P Bryce, and D F Horrobin, and R E Mansel

Department of Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Tight junctions (TJ) are the topical most structure in epithelial and endothelial cells and play a key role in the control of permeability and prevention of tumour cell invasion of endothelium. In this study we examined the effects of a range of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the function of TJs and the expression of occludin, a key molecule in the TJs of the human vascular endothelial cell line, ECV304. Treatment of the endothelial cells with gamma linolenic acid, an anti-cancer PUFA, increased the transendothelial cell resistance (TER) and reduced the paracellular permeability to large molecules. The effects were seen without any changes in the viability of the endothelial cells. Occludin, a recently identified molecule, which plays a major role in tight junctions was up-regulated by this fatty acid as revealed by both Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Other fatty acids were also tested. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) also exerted an up-regulatory effect, but LA and AA down-regulated the expression. We conclude that GLA and EPA which also have other anti-cancer effects, regulate the expression of occludin in endothelial cells and thus contribute to the modification of the TER of these cells.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008565	Membrane Proteins	Proteins which are found in membranes including cellular and intracellular membranes. They consist of two types, peripheral and integral proteins. They include most membrane-associated enzymes, antigenic proteins, transport proteins, and drug, hormone, and lectin receptors.	Cell Membrane Protein,Cell Membrane Proteins,Cell Surface Protein,Cell Surface Proteins,Integral Membrane Proteins,Membrane-Associated Protein,Surface Protein,Surface Proteins,Integral Membrane Protein,Membrane Protein,Membrane-Associated Proteins,Membrane Associated Protein,Membrane Associated Proteins,Membrane Protein, Cell,Membrane Protein, Integral,Membrane Proteins, Integral,Protein, Cell Membrane,Protein, Cell Surface,Protein, Integral Membrane,Protein, Membrane,Protein, Membrane-Associated,Protein, Surface,Proteins, Cell Membrane,Proteins, Cell Surface,Proteins, Integral Membrane,Proteins, Membrane,Proteins, Membrane-Associated,Proteins, Surface,Surface Protein, Cell
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D002463	Cell Membrane Permeability	A quality of cell membranes which permits the passage of solvents and solutes into and out of cells.	Permeability, Cell Membrane
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
D005231	Fatty Acids, Unsaturated	FATTY ACIDS in which the carbon chain contains one or more double or triple carbon-carbon bonds.	Fatty Acids, Polyunsaturated,Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,Unsaturated Fatty Acid,Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids,Acid, Polyunsaturated Fatty,Acid, Unsaturated Fatty,Acids, Polyunsaturated Fatty,Acids, Unsaturated Fatty,Fatty Acid, Polyunsaturated,Fatty Acid, Unsaturated,Unsaturated Fatty Acids
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015118	Eicosapentaenoic Acid	Important polyunsaturated fatty acid found in fish oils. It serves as the precursor for the prostaglandin-3 and thromboxane-3 families. A diet rich in eicosapentaenoic acid lowers serum lipid concentration, reduces incidence of cardiovascular disorders, prevents platelet aggregation, and inhibits arachidonic acid conversion into the thromboxane-2 and prostaglandin-2 families.	5,8,11,14,17-Eicosapentaenoic Acid,Icosapent,5,8,11,14,17-Icosapentaenoic Acid,Eicosapentanoic Acid,Timnodonic Acid,omega-3-Eicosapentaenoic Acid,Acid, Eicosapentanoic,omega 3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid
D016718	Arachidonic Acid	An unsaturated, essential fatty acid. It is found in animal and human fat as well as in the liver, brain, and glandular organs, and is a constituent of animal phosphatides. It is formed by the synthesis from dietary linoleic acid and is a precursor in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes.	(all-Z)-5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraenoic acid,Arachidonic Acid, (all-Z)-Isomer, 1-(14)C-Labeled,Arachidonic Acid, (all-Z)-isomer, 3H-Labeled,Arachidonic Acid, Ammonium Salt, (all-Z)-Isomer,Arachidonic Acid, Cerium Salt, (all-Z)-Isomer,Arachidonic Acid, Cesium Salt, (all-Z)-Isomer,Arachidonic Acid, Lithium Salt, (all-Z)-Isomer,Arachidonic Acid, Potassium Salt, (all-Z)-Isomer,Arachidonic Acid, Sodium Salt,Arachidonic Acid, Sodium Salt, (all-Z)-Isomer,Arachidonic Acid, Zinc Salt, (all-Z)-Isomer,Sodium Arachidonate,Vitamin F,Arachidonate, Sodium
D017097	Electric Impedance	The resistance to the flow of either alternating or direct electrical current.	Bioelectrical Impedance,Electric Resistance,Impedance,Ohmic Resistance,Biolectric Impedance,Electrical Impedance,Electrical Resistance,Impedance, Bioelectrical,Impedance, Biolectric,Impedance, Electric,Impedance, Electrical,Ohmic Resistances,Resistance, Electric,Resistance, Electrical,Resistance, Ohmic,Resistances, Ohmic
D017965	gamma-Linolenic Acid	An omega-6 fatty acid produced in the body as the delta 6-desaturase metabolite of linoleic acid. It is converted to dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, a biosynthetic precursor of monoenoic prostaglandins such as PGE1. (From Merck Index, 11th ed)	Gamolenic Acid,gamma-Linolenic Acid, Ammonium Salt,gamma-Linolenic Acid, Cerium Salt,gamma-Linolenic Acid, Indium Salt,gamma-Linolenic Acid, Lithium Salt,gamma-Linolenic Acid, Potassium Salt,gamma-Linolenic Acid, Sodium Salt,gamma-Linolenic Acid, Zinc Salt,Acid, Gamolenic,Acid, gamma-Linolenic,gamma Linolenic Acid,gamma Linolenic Acid, Ammonium Salt,gamma Linolenic Acid, Cerium Salt,gamma Linolenic Acid, Indium Salt,gamma Linolenic Acid, Lithium Salt,gamma Linolenic Acid, Potassium Salt,gamma Linolenic Acid, Sodium Salt,gamma Linolenic Acid, Zinc Salt