Biomedical subjects

B Hennig

Publications and source records attributed to B Hennig.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Amyloid beta-peptide induces cell monolayer albumin permeability, impairs glucose transport, and induces apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells.

Amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) is deposited as insoluble fibrils in the brain parenchyma and cerebral blood vessels in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition to neuronal degeneration, cerebral vascular alterations indicative of damage to vascular endothelial cells and disruption of the blood-brain barrier occur in AD. Here we report that A beta25-35 can impair regulatory functions of endothelial cells (ECs) from porcine pulmonary artery and induce their death. Subtoxic exposures to A beta25-35 induced albumin transfer across EC monolayers and impaired glucose transport into ECs. Cell death induced by A beta25-35 was of an apoptotic form, characterized by DNA condensation and fragmentation, and prevented by inhibitors of macromolecular synthesis and endonucleases. The effects of A beta25-35 were specific because A beta1-40 also induced apoptosis in ECs with the apoptotic cells localized to the microenvironment of A beta1-40 aggregates and because astrocytes did not undergo similar changes after exposure to A beta25-35. Damage and death of ECs induced by A beta25-35 were attenuated by antioxidants, a calcium channel blocker, and a chelator of intracellular calcium, indicating the involvement of free radicals and dysregulation of calcium homeostasis. The data show that A beta induces increased permeability of EC monolayers to macromolecules, impairs glucose transport, and induces apoptosis. If similar mechanisms are operative in vivo, then A beta and other amyloidogenic peptides may be directly involved in vascular EC damage documented in AD and other disorders that involve vascular amyloid accumulation.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

PubMed1997

Aortic antioxidant defense and lipid peroxidation in rabbits fed diets supplemented with different animal and plant fats.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that dietary fats, depending on the fat source, may modulate aortic lipid peroxidation and antioxidant protection. METHODS: Rabbits were fed a low fat (LF, 2 g/100 g corn oil) diet or LF enriched with 16 g/100 g (w/w) of corn oil (CO), corn oil plus cholesterol (23.5 mg/100 g diet, CO + C), bovine milk fat (MF), chicken fat (CF), beef tallow (BT) or lard (L). After a 30-day feeding period, aortic lipid peroxidation, as well as antioxidant enzymes and vitamin E were measured. RESULTS: In rabbits fed CO or L, aortic TBARS (a marker of lipid peroxidation) and total glutathione concentrations were greater but vitamin E levels were lower compared with the LF treatment. Moreover, in rabbits fed CO, elevated activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase but lowered activity of superoxide dismutase were observed. In rabbits fed the remaining high fat diets, including the CO + C diet, aortic lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities/levels did not differ from those fed LF. Feeding rabbits high-fat diets for 30 days did not induce aortic lipid deposition. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate CO, and possibly L, as the fat sources which significantly increase aortic oxidative stress. Because long-term disturbances in redox status may be implicated in atherogenesis, excessive dietary intake of CO or L may significantly contribute to the injury of the vessel wall.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed1997

Zinc attenuates tumor necrosis factor-mediated activation of transcription factors in endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that zinc can protect against endothelial dysfunction by interfering with oxidative stress-mediated cellular signaling and subsequent inhibition of an endothelial cell inflammatory response. Our approach was to compare alterations on molecular and biochemical levels with changes in endothelial barrier function that occur in zinc deficient conditions. METHODS: To investigate our hypothesis, endothelial cells were exposed to zinc deficient media for 2 to 10 days to deplete cellular zinc stores. Following this, half of the groups received zinc supplementation (9.2 microM) for 48 hours. The other half served as zinc deficient controls. These cells were then challenged with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) for varying time periods. Nuclear extracts were prepared from cells and analyzed for nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding. Media from cells were analyzed for interleukin 8 (IL-8) production, and cellular proteins were determined. RESULTS: Zinc supplementation resulted in a 74% increase in cellular zinc content. It was also shown that a 1.5 hour exposure to TNF (100 U/mL medium) significantly increased NF-kappa B and AP-1 binding, which was lowered considerably when cells were supplemented with physiological levels of zinc. Zinc supplementation also caused a marked attenuation in IL-8 expression by endothelial cells in response to TNF-mediated cell activation. DISCUSSION: Our previous data clearly show that zinc is a protective and critical nutrient for maintenance of endothelial integrity. The present data suggest that zinc may protect against cytokine-mediated activation of oxidative stress sensitive transcription factors, upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and endothelial cell dysfunction. This may have implications in understanding mechanisms of atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Linoleic acid potentiates TNF-mediated oxidative stress, disruption of calcium homeostasis, and apoptosis of cultured vascular endothelial cells.

Diet-derived lipids may influence cytokine-mediated endothelial cell dysfunction, including TNF-induced apoptosis. To test this hypothesis, oxidative stress, intracellular calcium levels, endothelial barrier function, cell viability, and apoptosis were measured in vascular endothelial cells treated with 90 microM linoleic acid (18:2, n-6) and/or 20 ng/mL TNF (100 U/mL). For short-term exposure, endothelial cells were exposed to 18:2 for 6 h or to TNF for 1.5 h. For long-term exposure, endothelial cultures were treated with 18:2 for 24 h and with TNF for 19.5 h. In cells exposed to 18:2 + TNF, pretreatment with 18:2 began 4.5 h before additional exposure to TNF for either 1.5 h (short-term exposure) or 19.5 h (long-term exposure). After treatment, endothelial cultures were washed and incubated with maintenance medium for up to 4 days. Although initial treatment with TNF or 18:2 significantly increased oxidative stress and intracellular calcium levels, only exposure to TNF induced apoptosis in cultured endothelial cells. Furthermore, the combined exposure to 18:2 + TNF potentiated TNF-induced apoptosis. Additional treatments with BAPTA-AM, n-propyl gallate, vitamin E, and with aurintricarboxylic acid partially protected against TNF- or 18:2 + TNF-induced apoptosis. The present study suggests that changes in the cellular lipid environment may markedly influence local TNF-induced events in the vascular endothelium, including endothelial cell apoptosis. Such mechanisms may play a role in the damage and death of vascular endothelial cells in atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Oxidized lipid-mediated alterations in proteoglycan metabolism in cultured pulmonary endothelial cells.

Compared to cholesterol or linoleic acid (18:2), oxidized lipids such as cholestan-3 beta, 5 alpha, 6 beta-triol (triol) and hydroperoxy linoleic acid (HPODE) markedly impair endothelial barrier function in culture [Hennig and Boissonneault, 1987; Hennig et al. 1986]. Because proteoglycans contribute to vascular permeability properties, the effects of cholesterol and 18:2 and their oxidation products, triol and HPODE, on endothelial proteoglycan metabolism were determined. While cholesterol was without effect, a concentration-dependent decrease in cellular proteoglycans (measured by 35S incorporation) was observed after exposure to triol. Compared to control cultures, cholesterol reduced mRNA levels for the proteoglycans, perlecan and biglycan. Triol had a similar effect on biglycan but not an perlecan mRNA levels. Compared to 18:2, 1,3 and 5 microM HPODE depressed cellular proteoglycans. Perlecan mRNA levels were reduced more by HPODE when compared to 18:2. Biglycan mRNA levels were reduced by 3 microM, but not by 5 microM HPODE. These data demonstrate that oxidized lipids such as triol and HPODE can decrease cellular proteoglycan metabolism in endothelial monolayers and alter mRNA levels of major specific proteoglycans in a concentration-dependent manner. This may have implications in lipid-mediated disruption of endothelial barrier function and atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Is endothelial cell autocrine production of tumor necrosis factor a mediator of lipid-induced endothelial dysfunction?

Injury or dysfunction of the vascular endothelium is one of the first events in the development of atherosclerosis. Individual lipids, e.g. fatty acids or lipoproteins, are among the most critical factors which may induce injury to the endothelium. Selected fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, can disrupt endothelial barrier function and increase the inflammatory response of the vascular endothelium. The mechanisms of these processes are not fully understood. It is hypothesized that selected fatty acids can mediate the autocrine production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in endothelial cells. This will activate a variety of intracellular signaling pathways and further potentiate endothelial injury initially induced by fatty acids.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Antiatherogenic properties of zinc: implications in endothelial cell metabolism.

Zinc is an essential component of biomembranes and is necessary for maintenance of membrane structure and function. There is evidence that zinc can provide antiatherogenic properties by preventing metabolic physiologic derangements of the vascular endothelium. Because of its antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing properties, zinc appears to be crucial for the protection against cell-destabilizing agents such as polyunsaturated lipids and inflammatory cytokines. Zinc also may be antiatherogenic by interfering with signaling pathways involved in apoptosis. Most importantly, we have evidence that zinc can protect against inflammatory cytokine-mediated activation of oxidative stress-responsive transcription factors, such as nuclear factor kappa B and AP-1. It is very likely that certain lipids and zinc deficiency may potentiate the cytokine-mediated inflammatory response and endothelial cell dysfunction in atherosclerosis. Thus, the antiatherogenic role of zinc appears to be in its ability to inhibit oxidative stress-responsive factors involved in disruption of endothelial integrity and atherosclerosis. We discuss antiatherogenic properties of zinc with a focus on endothelial cell metabolism.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Growth requirements of endothelial cells in culture: variations in serum and amino acid concentrations.

Endothelial cell growth in vitro is limited to the availability of nutrients from commercially available media and added serum. Nutrients, such as amino acids, are chiefly derived from the cell culture medium, rather than from added serum, and optimal endothelial cell growth may be dependent on amino acid levels in the culture media. To test this hypothesis, porcine pulmonary artery-derived endothelial cells were exposed to culture medium 199 (M199), amino acid-deficient M199 (dM199), as well as dM199 supplemented with amino acids. Cell protein was similar in cells cultured for 3 d in M199 supplemented with 1, 3, 5 or 10% bovine calf serum, respectively. Addition of amino acid solutions (L-amino acids [Laa], DL-amino acids [DLaa], 2Laa, or Laa+glutamine) to dM199 demonstrated a cell dependence for optimal growth on the type of amino acids as well as on the total available nitrogen in the media. Compared with M199, dM199 supplemented with Laa only partially supported long-term growth of endothelial cells in culture. On the other hand, dM199 supplemented with either 2Laa, DLaa, or Laa+ glutamine was superior over M199 with regard to endothelial cell growth. The addition of Laa+glutamine to dM199 was most growth-supporting, with an increase of over 2.6-fold in total cell protein compared with cells cultured with M199. These results suggest that, in addition to the presence of essential amino acids, total available nitrogen in culture media may be a critical factor for optimal endothelial cell growth.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1996

Susceptibility to hepatic oxidative stress in rabbits fed different animal and plant fats.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the effect of diets enriched with plant and animal fats on oxidative stress and glutathione metabolism in rabbit liver tissues. This study was conducted to investigate whether the type of dietary fat will impact fatty acid composition and oxidant/antioxidant status in tissues. METHODS: Rabbits were fed diets containing 2 g corn oil/100 g diet (low fat diet, LF) and LF supplemented with 16 g/100 g diet of either corn oil (CO), CO with added cholesterol (CO + C), milk fat (MF), chicken fat (CF), beef tallow (BT), or lard (L) for 30 days. After the feeding period, livers were analyzed for total fatty acid composition, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes, and reduced glutathione (GSH), as well as for activities of glutathione peroxidase (GP) and glutathione reductase (GR). Moreover, to fully determine the oxidative stability and free radical trapping capacity, TBARS levels were measured after additional exposure of liver homogenates to 10 mM 2,2(1)-azo-bis-amidinopropane- hydrochloride (AAPH) for up to 21 hours. RESULTS: CO and CF, but not saturated fats such as MF, increased liver conjugated diene and TBARS levels and decreased liver GSH levels and GP activity. In tissues additionally exposed to AAPH, the maximum oxidation, measured as TBARS, was reached between 6 and 7 hours of treatment, independent of dietary fat. In addition, there was a marked effect of AAPH on the maximum rate of TBARS formation with the following descending order: CO > CF > CO + C > L > MF > BT > LF. This high susceptibility to oxidative stress in liver tissues of rabbits fed the CO diet may be explained in part by the significant elevation in linoleic acid (18:2n-6). DISCUSSION: There appears to be an inverse correlation between dietary fat-mediated oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities. The present data suggest that high levels of dietary unsaturated fat should be avoided if oxidative stress is a critical issue in nutrition-related diseases. In addition, these data support our hypothesis that diets rich in MF provide a lipid environment with low susceptibility to oxidative stress.

Amidines↗

PubMed1996

Nutritional implications in vascular endothelial cell metabolism.

Endothelial cells interact with blood components and the abluminal tissues, thus playing an active role in many aspects of vascular function. Numerous physiologic and pathophysiologic stimuli are often mediated by nutrients that can contribute to the overall functions of endothelial cells in the regulation of vascular tone, coagulation, cellular growth, immune and inflammatory responses. Therefore, nutrient-mediated functional changes of the endothelium and the underlying tissues may be significantly involved in disease processes such as atherosclerosis. There is evidence that individual nutrients or nutrient derivatives may either provoke or prevent metabolic and physiologic perturbations of the vascular endothelium. Diets high in fat and/or calories are considered a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. Our research has shown that certain diet-derived lipids and their derivatives can disrupt normal endothelial integrity, thus reducing the ability of the endothelium to act as a selectively permeable barrier to blood components. Mechanisms underlying fatty acid-mediated endothelial cell dysfunction may be related to changes in fatty acid composition as well as to an increase in cellular oxidative stress. Selective lipid accumulation and fatty acid changes in endothelial cells can modulate membrane fluidity, proteoglycan metabolism and signal transduction mechanisms. Most importantly, dietary fats rich in certain unsaturated fatty acids, may be atherogenic by enhancing the formation of reactive oxygen intermediates. A subsequent imbalance in cellular oxidative stress/antioxidant status can activate oxidative stress-responsive transcription factors, which in turn may promote cytokine production, expression of adhesion molecules on the surface of endothelial cells, and thus intensify an inflammatory response in atherosclerosis. Our data also suggest that certain nutrients, which have antioxidant and/or membrane stabilizing properties, can protect endothelial cells by interfering with lipid/cytokine-mediated endothelial cell dysfunction. These findings contribute to the understanding of the interactive role of dietary fats with inflammatory components, as well as with nutrients that exhibit antiatherogenic properties, in the development of atherosclerosis.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed1996

Linoleic acid activates nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) and induces NF-kappa B-dependent transcription in cultured endothelial cells.

High dietary intakes of unsaturated fats may be atherogenic by disrupting normal functions of the vascular endothelium, due in part to the ability of linoleic acid (18:2n-6) to contribute to an increase in cellular oxidative stress and related injurious events. Exposing endothelial cells to 90 micromol linoleic acid/L for 6 h resulted in a significant increase in lipid hydroperoxides that coincided wih an increase in intracellular calcium concentrations. Treatment with this fatty acid caused an initial decrease in glutathione concentrations, which was followed by an increase at later time points. Most importantly, a significant activation of the oxidative stress-sensitive nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) was achieved after a 6-h exposure to 18:2n-6, which is the time point at which maximal depletion of cellular glutathione was observed. The fatty acid-mediated NF-kappa B activation was accompanied by induction of NF-kappa B-dependent transcription, as measured by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay of an NF-kappa B-responsive promoter construct. Pretreatment of endothelial cells with vitamin E and N-acetyl cysteine inhibited the fatty acid-induced activation of NF-kappa B and formation of lipid hydroperoxides. These data suggest that oxidative stress-induced cellular changes are critical early events in fatty acid-mediated endothelial cell dysfunction.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Linoleic acid and TNF-alpha cross-amplify oxidative injury and dysfunction of endothelial cells.

Factors implicated in the development of atherosclerosis include metabolic alterations of the endothelium induced by certain lipids and inflammatory cytokines. To study the hypothesis that the combined presence of unsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory cytokines may cross-amplify their individual injurious effects, cultured endothelial cells were treated with 90 mu M of linoleic acid (18:2 n-6) and/or 20 ng/ml (100 U/ml) of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) for up to 24 h. Disturbances in endothelial cell metabolism were determined by measuring cellular oxidative stress, oxidative stress-inducible nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) and NF-kappa B-related transcription, intracellular calcium levels, and endothelial barrier function reflected by transendothelial albumin movement. Both 18:2 and TNF increased cellular oxidation, intracellular calcium, and endothelial barrier permeability. These changes were cross-amplified in cells treated both with 18:2 and TNF, compared with 18:2 or TNF alone. In contrast, a combined exposure to 18:2 and TNF did not potentiate effects mediated by 18:2 or TNF alone on NF-kappa B activation or NF-kappa B-related transcription. Pretreatment with 25 mu M vitamin E attenuated 18:2 and/or TNF-mediated endothelial cell dysfunction. These results suggest that certain unsaturated fatty acids can potentiate TNF-mediated endothelial cell dysfunction and that oxidative stress may be partially responsible for these metabolic events. These findings have implications for understanding lipid-mediated inflammatory responses in atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls causes endothelial cell dysfunction.

Environmental chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), may be atherogenic by disrupting normal functions of the vascular endothelium. To investigate this hypothesis, porcine pulmonary artery-derived endothelial cells were exposed to 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 77), 2,3,4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 114), or 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) for up to 24 hours. These PCBs were selected for their varying binding avidities with the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor and differences in their induction of cytochrome P450. PCB 77 and PCB 114 significantly disrupted, in a dose-dependent manner, endothelial barrier function by allowing an increase in albumin transfer across endothelial monolayers. These PCBs also contributed markedly to cellular oxidative stress, as measured by 2,7-dichlorofluorescin (DCF) fluorescence and lipid hydroperoxides, and caused a significant increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) levels. Enhanced oxidative stress and [Ca2+]i in PCB 77- and PCB 114-treated cells were accompanied by increased activity and content of cytochrome P450 1A and by a decrease in the vitamin E content in the culture medium. In contrast to the effects of PCB 77 and PCB 114, cell exposure to PCB 153 had no effect on cellular oxidation, [Ca2+]i, or endothelial barrier function. These results suggest that certain PCBs may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis by causing endothelial cell dysfunction and a decrease in the barrier function of the vascular endothelium. It is possible that interaction of PCBs with the Ah receptor and activation of the cytochrome P450 1A subfamily are involved in this pathology.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Tumor necrosis factor reduces proteoglycan synthesis in cultured endothelial cells.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced disruption of vascular endothelial barrier function may be due in part to alterations in proteoglycan metabolism. To test this hypothesis, confluent endothelial cell monolayers were exposed for 24 h to 500 or 1,000 U of TNF per milliliter of culture medium together with 20 microCi Na2 35SO4. HPLC anion-exchange separation of proteoglycans secreted into media of control as well as TNF-treated cultures revealed one major peak (representing 95% of total radioactivity) and one minor peak (representing 5% of total radioactivity), which eluted at 0.6 and 0.9 M NaCl, respectively. One single peak was obtained from control as well as TNF-treated endothelial cell monolayers and eluted at 1.2 M NaCl. TNF treatment did not change the total quantity of radioactive proteoglycans secreted into the media but significantly decreased the amount of proteoglycans in endothelial cell monolayers. However, TNF treatment did not alter the size or glycosaminoglycan (GAG) composition of the proteoglycans either in the media or in the cell monolayers. In addition, mRNA levels of specific proteoglycans, perlecan and biglycan, were measured upon TNF treatment, using Northern analysis. TNF treatment caused a dose-dependent decrease in mRNA levels for the core proteins of perlecan, a major heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), and biglycan in endothelial cultures. These results suggest that TNF decreases production of proteoglycans and alters normal endothelial cell proteoglycan metabolism which may be sufficient to impair endothelial barrier function.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Fumonisin B1 alters sphingolipid metabolism and disrupts the barrier function of endothelial cells in culture.

Fumonisins are responsible for at least two diseases of veterinary importance (equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary edema) and are carcinogenic for experimental animals and, perhaps, humans. They have been found to disrupt sphingolipid metabolism in many types of cells, including hepatocytes, neurons, and renal cells. In this study, endothelial cells form porcine pulmonary arteries were cultured on micropore filters as a model for the endothelial barrier, and barrier function was quantitated as the movement of albumin across the endothelial monolayers. Fumonisin B1 increased the amount of free sphinganine by 20- to 30-fold within 3 hr, as expected for inhibition of sphinganine (sphingosine) N-acyltransferase by this mycotoxin. At 30 to 50 microM, fumonisin B1 doubled the rate of albumin transfer across endothelial monolayers; however, there was no loss of cell viability based on morphology or trypan blue exclusion. When 15 microM D-erythro-sphinganine was added to the cells, the rate of albumin transfer also doubled (after 24 hr incubation) without a loss of viability; however, this treatment increased the cellular level of sphinganine by > 100-fold. Addition of 25 microM sphinganine caused even greater albumin transfer, but also resulted in significant cell death. These results establish that fumonisin B1 and D-erythro-sphinganine allow accelerated passage of macromolecules across the endothelium. Fumonisin B1 alters sphingolipid biosynthesis with an elevation of sphinganine in the cells which may, at least in part, explain the observed disruption of endothelial barrier function.

Albumins↗

PubMed1995

Role of glutathione redox cycle in TNF-alpha-mediated endothelial cell dysfunction.

Modulation of the glutathione redox cycle may influence tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-mediated disturbances of endothelial integrity. To test this hypothesis, normal endothelial cells or cells with either increased or decreased glutathione levels were exposed to 100 ng (500 U) TNF/ml. Increased glutathione levels were achieved by exposure to 0.2 mM N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and decreased glutathione levels by exposure to 25 microM buthionine sulfoximine (BSO). Several components of the glutathione redox cycle as well as markers of endothelial integrity, such as cytoplasmic free calcium and transendothelial albumin transfer, were measured in the treated cells. Exposure to TNF for 3 and 6 h decreased total glutathione levels, which was followed by an increase at later time points. Moreover, treatment with TNF resulted in an increase in the ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione, intracellular free calcium, albumin transfer across endothelial monolayers and lipid hydroperoxides. However, an increase in lipid hydroperoxides was seen only when endothelial cell cultures were supplemented with iron. BSO treatment increased susceptibility of endothelial cells to TNF-mediated metabolic disturbances. On the other hand, NAC partially protected against TNF-induced injury to endothelial monolayers. Our results demonstrate the important role of the glutathione redox cycle in TNF-mediated disturbances of the vascular endothelium and indicate that modulation of glutathione levels may potentiate the injurious effects of this inflammatory cytokine.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1995

Role of fatty acids and eicosanoids in modulating proteoglycan metabolism in endothelial cells.

Endothelial cell dysfunction is considered to be a critical event in the etiology of atherosclerosis. Thus, the preservation of endothelial structure and function are a prerequisite for normal control of vascular permeability properties, mediation of both inflammatory and immunologic responses and the general 'communication' between blood-borne cells and abluminal tissues. Many of these properties can be influenced by proteoglycans present in vascular tissues. There is evidence that selected lipids can be atherogenic by altering endothelial proteoglycan metabolism. Little is known about the role of fatty acids in modulating proteoglycan composition in endothelial cells. Data suggest, however, that linoleic acid in particular can adversely alter proteoglycan metabolism, which may be related to an imbalance in eicosanoid synthesis patterns. These events could be sufficient to disrupt normal endothelial barrier function, initiate smooth muscle migration and proliferation, and result in other metabolic dysfunctions associated with the etiology of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Thus, the focus of this review is on fatty acids and eicosanoids as they may alter proteoglycan metabolism of vascular tissues and in particular of the endothelium.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Electron spin resonance studies of fatty acid-induced alterations in membrane fluidity in cultured endothelial cells.

Endothelial cell dysfunction has been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis. Of vital importance to the maintenance of endothelial cell integrity is the preservation of membrane functional and structural properties, such as membrane fluidity. The aim of this study was to develop a model for studying the relationship between endothelial cell integrity and membrane fluidity alterations in a well-defined cell culture setting. Alterations in membrane fluidity were assessed using electron spin resonance after labeling endothelial cells with the lipid-specific spin labels, CAT-16 and 12-nitroxide stearic acid. Endothelial cells were exposed to various 18-carbon fatty acids, i.e. stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), or linolenic (18:3), in addition to lipolyzed HDL (L-HDL) and benzyl alcohol. Membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition of endothelial cells supplemented with these fatty acids was analyzed using gas chromatography. All fatty acids, except 18:0, decreased membrane fluidity. A relationship between membrane fluidity and fatty acid compositional alterations in cellular phospholipids was observed. In particular, the arachidonic acid content decreased following exposure to 18:1, 18:2, or 18:3. Exposure of endothelial cells to L-HDL, lipoprotein particles which contain high levels of 18:1 and 18:2, also decreased membrane fluidity. The stabilization of cytoskeletal actin filaments by phalloidin partially prevented 18:2-induced increases in albumin transfer, thus implicating a cytoskeletal involvement in the 18:2-induced membrane fluidity changes involved in endothelial cell dysfunction. The present study shows that the exposure of endothelial cells to various lipids causes membrane fluidity alterations which may contribute to endothelial cell dysfunction and atherosclerosis.

Animals↗