Effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on endocannabinoid and N-acyl-ethanolamine levels in mouse adipocytes.
The tissue concentrations of the endocannabinoids, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine (anandamide), are altered in the adipose tissue of mice fed a high fat diet. We have investigated here the effect on endocannabinoid levels of incubation of mouse 3T3-F442A adipocytes with several free polyunstaurated fatty acids (PUFAs), including linolenic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as well as oleic acid (OA) and palmitic acid (PA). By using mass spectrometric methods, we quantified the levels of endocannabinoids, of two anandamide congeners, N-palmitoyl-ethanolamine (PEA) and N-oleoyl-ethanolamine (OEA), and of fatty acids esterified in triacylglycerols or phospholipids, which act as 2-AG and/or N-acyl-ethanolamine precursors. Incubation with AA strongly elevated 2-AG levels and the amounts of AA esterified in triacylglycerols and on glycerol carbon atom 2 (sn-2), but not 1 (sn-1), in phospholipids. Incubation with DHA decreased 2-AG and anandamide levels and the amounts of AA esterified on both the sn-2 and sn-1 position of phospholipids, but not on triacylglycerols. PEA levels augmented following incubation of adipocytes with OA and PA, with no corresponding changes in phospholipids and triacylglycerols. We suggest that dietary PUFAs might modulate the levels of adipocyte phospholipids that act as endocannabinoid precursors.
Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via dei Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy.
Isabel
I
Matias
Gianfranca
G
Carta
Elisabetta
E
Murru
Stefania
S
Petrosino
Sebastiano
S
Banni
Vincenzo
V
Di Marzo
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; C022203:N-acylethanolamines; D014280:Triglycerides