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Changes in Endothelial Cell Membrane Morphology and Elasticity with Exposure to Polyunsaturated Free‐Fatty Acids
Author(s) -
Mabry Brittany,
Lau Elese,
Hunt Brian
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.956.1
Subject(s) - cholesterol , docosahexaenoic acid , polyunsaturated fatty acid , chemistry , cell , cell culture , fetal bovine serum , fatty acid , membrane , atomic force microscopy , biophysics , biochemistry , biology , materials science , nanotechnology , genetics
Background The purpose of this preliminary study is to determine the effect of incubating human endothelial cells in PUFA's on their nanomechanical properties. Methods Human aortic endothelial cells (Invitrogen) were cultured in endothelial cell medium containing fetal bovine serum, growth supplement and penicillin/streptomycin (ScienCell Research Laboratories) and incubated in the presence of 5% CO2 at 37°C for 24 hours. Cells were then incubated for another 24 hours in medium containing either 400 mM cholesterol, normal cell medium, or 400 mM docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), or eicosapentanoic acid (EPA). Differences in membrane morphology and elasticity were measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM; Bruker BioScope) in cell medium at room temperature. Data were analyzed using NanoScope. Results Cells incubated in in EPA or DHA were flatter (height =2667nm and 2372 nm respectively) compared to control cells (3141nm) and cholesterol cells (height = 5390nm). The elastic modulus of DHA‐incubated cells (3.63 log(Pa)) differed compared to control cells (3.95 log(Pa)) and cholesterol cells (4.14 log(Pa)). Deformation also differed between DHA cells (323 nm) and cholesterol cells (249 nm). Conclusion PUFA incubated cells differ in their nanomechanical properties compared to control and cholesterol cells, as measured by AFM. Measures of elastic modulus and deformation suggest a more fluid membrane in PUFA incubated cells, which may enhance glucose uptake in these cells.