title: Incorporation of n-3 fatty acids into WB-F344 cell phospholipids inhibits gap junctional intercellular communication.
abstract: In this investigation, we demonstrate that rat liver epithelial (WB-F344) cells grown in medium supplemented with n-3 fatty acids (FA) results in the inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). Cells incubated for 48 hr in medium containing 50 microM alpha-linolenate (18:3n-3) resulted in a 60% inhibition of GJIC, compared to control cells, while treatment with gamma-linolenate (18:3n-6) had no effect. Supplementation with octadecatetraenoate (18:4n-3), eicosapentaenoate (20:5n-3), and docosahexaenoate (22:6n-3), inhibited GJIC by 42%, 28%, and 18%, respectively. Incubation with each of the n-3 FA markedly increased the total n-3 FA content of cellular phospholipids (PL). Growing cells in medium containing 50 microM arachidonate (20:4n-6) plus 50 microM 18:3n-3 partially attenuated the inhibition of GJIC induced by 18:3n-3. The mechanism by which n-3 FA inhibit GJIC remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hasler
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Trosko
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bennink
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death; D002460:Cell Line; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C013641:parinaric acid