title: Effects of fatty acids on endothelial cells: inflammation and monocyte adhesion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diet is known to have an important impact on cardiovascular health. n-3 Fatty acids (FAs), found in high quantity in fish oil, have demonstrated beneficial effects in patients with coronary artery disease. The role of n-6 FAs remains more controversial. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of arachidonic acid (AA), an n-6 FA, and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), an n-3 FA, on the interaction between monocytes and endothelial cells (ECs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a cellular model of ECs (EA.hy.926) and monocytes (human leukemic myelomonocytic U937). Confluent ECs were treated with AA or EPA, in the presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) or vehicle alone for either 4 or 24h. Adhesion of monocytes to the endothelial monolayer was performed. For gene expression, reverse transcription, followed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increase in adhesion of monocytes to the endothelial monolayer in the presence of n-6 FAs, both in the presence and in the absence of TNF-α at 4 and 24h. The adhesion of monocytes to the endothelial monolayer was decreased with n-3 FAs at 24h. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, E-Selectin, Interleukin 6, and TNF-α were significantly increased in ECs treated with n-6 FAs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that AA increases inflammation and enhances the ability of ECs to bind monocytes in vitro. EPA leads to a decrease in the ability of EA.hy.926 to bind monocytes, although the effect appears more modest. Taken together, these data indicate that the n-6 FA AA could potentiate inflammation and early events of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco, California 94121, USA. marlene.grenon@ucsfmedctr.org
authors.forename: S Marlene
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Grenon
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aguado-Zuniga
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hatton
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: Millie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hughes-Fulford
mesh_terms: D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases