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Differential effects of unsaturated fatty acids on phospholipid synthesis in human leukemia monocytic U937 cells
Author(s) -
Chu Arthur J.,
Nguyen Camtu T.,
Moore John
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
cell biochemistry and function
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1099-0844
pISSN - 0263-6484
DOI - 10.1002/cbf.290110308
Subject(s) - phospholipid , ethanolamine , phosphatidylethanolamine , u937 cell , phosphatidylcholine , choline , biochemistry , chemistry , glycerol , cell culture , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , apoptosis , membrane , genetics
The biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in monocyte‐like leukemia U937 cells was monitored by adding [ 3 H]choline, [ 14 C]ethanolamine or [ 14 C]glycerol to the culture media; incorporation into phospholipid (PL) increased with time. The effect of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) on PC and PE synthesis was investigated by pretreating U937 cells for 72h with 10 μ M 18:1 ( n –9), 18:2 ( n –6), 18:3 ( n –3), 20:4 ( n –6) and 20:5 ( n –3). The UFA caused no alteration in cell growth, as evidenced by light microscopy and the incorporation of [ 3 H]thymidine and [ 3 H]leucine. Total cellular uptake of radioactive precursors remained unaffected by all the treatments. Pretreatment with 20:5 resulted in approximately 25 per cent reduction in the incorporation of [ 3 H]choline into PL, while no significant effect was detected with the other UFAs. 18:3, 20:4 and 20:5 depressed the incorporation of [ 14 C]ethanolamine into PL by 34 per cent, 28 per cent and 49 per cent respectively. However, there was no redistribution of label with any of the treatments. 18:3, 20:4 and 20:5 also antagonized the stimulatory effect of endotoxin (LPS) on PC and PE synthesis. In addition, the incorporation from [ 14 C]glycerol into PC and PE was reduced by 18:3, 20:4 and 20:5. Although the PL composition of the cells remained essentially unaffected, our study shows that chronic treatment of U937 cells with n –3 PUFA (20:5) depressed PC and PE synthesis, and 18:3 and 20:4 also caused inhibition of PE synthesis.