Whole blood fatty acid composition at birth : From the maternal compartment to the infant

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The biological role of fatty acids (FA) in the perinatal period is under active investigation. We here describe the application of a simplified microanalytical procedure to compare the FA profile of maternal, umbilical cord and infant whole blood, inclusive of all circulating lipid fractions and cells. METHODS: The FA composition has been analyzed with a micromethod in 16 triplets, including maternal blood, cord blood at delivery and infant blood at day 4, respectively. RESULTS: As expected, the FA composition of blood samples withdrawn from the umbilical cord is more similar to the FA composition of blood from 4-day old infants than the FA pattern of maternal blood at delivery. Nevertheless, infant blood FA profile differed from cord for lower long-chain polyunsaturated FA and higher monounsaturated FA. CONCLUSIONS: Our explorative data using whole blood microanalysis confirm the progressive increase of long-chain polyunsaturated FA levels from the mothers towards cord and then infant blood

n-3 fatty acid ethyl ester administration to healthy subjects and to hypertriglyceridemic patients reduces tissue factor activity in adherent monocytes

n-3 Fatty acids are known to influence several functions of monocytes, including adhesion, cytokine synthesis, and superoxide generation. Monocytes express tissue factor, a membrane-bound glycoprotein, that acts as a catalyst in the coagulation cascade. In this study we evaluated the effects of administration of n-3 fatty acid ethyl esters to healthy volunteers and to hypertriglyceridemic patients on tissue factor activity (TF activity) in adherent monocytes. n-3 Fatty acids containing 75% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (ratio of EPA to DHA, 1.34) were administered (3 g/d) to normal volunteers for 18 weeks. In addition, the effects of this treatment were evaluated in 30 hypertriglyceridemic patients for 24 weeks by using a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. TF activity in adherent monocytes was evaluated with a one-stage clotting assay. Plasma and monocyte fatty acid compositions were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. In healthy volunteers, n-3 fatty acids significantly reduced TF activity in adherent monocytes either in the unstimulated condition or after exposure to endotoxin. The inhibitory effect was observed after 12 weeks of treatment and was more pronounced after 18 weeks (> 70%, P < .001 versus baseline). Concomitantly, levels of EPA and DHA increased in plasma and monocyte lipids. Interestingly, after stopping treatment, monocyte TF activity remained inhibited for at least 14 weeks. Treatment with n-3 fatty acids for 24 weeks also resulted in a significant reduction of TF activity in adherent monocytes from hypertriglyceridemic patients (-31% and -40% in unstimulated and endotoxin-stimulated cells; P < .05 versus baseline).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS

Differential modulation by simvastatin of the metabolic pathways in the n-9, n-6 and n-3 fatty acid series, in human monocytic and hepatocytic cell lines

Statins affect the production of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), both in vitro and in vivo. Various studies have shown the effects of statins on the pattern of n-6 fatty acids (FA), but limited attention has been paid to the n-3 FA. We investigated, in THP-1 and in HepG2 cells, the effects of simvastatin on the conversion of the 18C FA precursors in the n-3 and n-6 series, [1-14C] (alpha)-linolenic acid ((alpha)-LNA) and [1- 14C] linoleic acid (LA) respectively, and on the metabolism of [1-14C] stearic acid (SA). THP-1 cells, as in the case of LA, actively converted (alpha)-LNA to its products, and after simvastatin treatment, the total conversion was significantly increased (from 57.2 (plus or minus) 7.2 to 74.3 (plus or minus) 8.5%, p < 0.05). HepG2 cells also converted LA and (alpha)-LNA, but simvastatin increased significantly only the conversion of LA (9.5 (plus or minus) 1.9% versus 23.8 (plus or minus) 5.1%, p < 0.02). SA conversion was similar in untreated cells (about 50%), while statin increased the production of oleic acid in HepG2, but in THP-1 cells there was a decrease. In conclusion, LA, (alpha)-LNA and SA are differentially metabolized in THP-1 and in HepG2 cells and their increased conversion by simvastatin is lower in HepG2 than in THP-1. These differences may reflect the distinct features of the two cell lines: monocytes, precursors of phagocytic cells, versus hepatocytes with mainly metabolic functions. Substantial differences concern also cellular FA pools: structural in THP-1 cells, and also depot, resulting in sequestering of the substrates, in HepG2. The greater n-3 FA metabolism in THP-1 cells may have favourable functional effects. (copyright) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Marine macroalgae analyzed by mass spectrometry are rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids

Algae from cold water (Canada) and warm water (China) were analyzed for their total lipid content, and for their fatty acid (FA) composition and content. The major findings are that FA from Canadian algae are generally richer in polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), with a higher n-3/n-6 FA ratio, and a higher degree of total unsaturation. The 18 C, 4 double bonds FA (18 : 4 stearidonic acid, morotic acid as synonym) was detected in greater amounts in cold water samples. The high levels of total PUFA, and especially of n-3 FA in Canadian algae, suggests their possible utilizations for nutritional purposes

Increased thrombogenic potential of human monocyte-derived macrophages spontaneously transformed into foam cells

This study investigated whether spontaneous lipid enrichment of human macrophages affects their thrombogenic potential as measured by increased production of tissue factor (TF) and plasminogen activation inhibitor types 1 and 2 (PAI-1 and PAI-2). Macrophages were obtained following a 7-day culture period of monocytes, isolated from the same donor, in autologous serum (HS) or in fetal bovine serum (FBS). Those cultured in HS underwent marked lipid accumulation relative to those cultured in FBS that was accompanied by increased production of TF and PAI-1, but not of PAI-2, and decreased production of interleukin-1beta. They also contained more arachidonic and linoleic acid and lower amounts of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (22: 6). These data indicate that the transformation of macrophages into foam cells results in an increase in their thrombogenic and antifibrinolytic potential and provide a possible explanation of the thrombotic sequelae frequently consequent on plaque fissuring and disruption

Cigarette smoke affects plasma fatty acid levels : an in vivo study

Cigarette smoke (CS) contains thousand of compounds, mainly free radicals, that affect polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) levels. In vitro, in different cell lines, CS inhibits the conversion of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids (FA) to their longer and more unsaturated derivatives. In vivo studies on the effects of CS on PUFA metabolism are scarce. Objective: to compare the FA profile in smoking (S) vs non smoking persons (NS). Methods: 12 S and 12 NS hyperlipidemic subjects were selected. FA in total lipids (TL), phospholipids (PL), triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol esters (CE) were analyzed by GC. Results: TG, LDL, HDL, glycemia, BMI and age are similar in the two groups. Although S show lower total cholesterol (TC) levels, their plasma oxysterols are higher (+53%) vs NS. In TL, S present higher levels of saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated FA (MUFA) vs NS. On the contrary PUFA are decreased: linoleic acid (LA, 18:2 n-3), arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4 n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are reduced in S than in NS. In addition, S present lower levels of PUFA in PL, TG and CE and higher levels of MUFA and SFA in PL and CE. The ANOVA linear regression shows, in TL, positive correlation between LA levels and TC, LDL only in NS. The correlation found in S is positive between 18:0 and TC, LDL, HDL; between SFA and TG; negative correlation between DHA and TC, EPA, DHA and TG. The relationship between FA levels and cigarette number or years of smoking were also investigated. Conclusions: Cigarette smoke significantly affects FA composition in TL, PL, TG and CE; S show decreased levels of PUF A and increased levels of SFA in relation to the number of years of smoking, while no correlation was seen between FA levels and number of cigarettes per day

Early retinol-binding protein levels are associated with growth changes in infants born to diabetic mothers

Background: Biochemical predictors of infants' growth changes are not available. Objectives: We tested whether retinol-binding protein (RBP), docosahexaenoic acid and insulin (I) measured within 72 h from birth are associated with growth changes in infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: Fifty-six children, 32 born to diabetic mothers treated with insulin (GDM-I) and 24 born to diabetic mothers treated with diet (GDM-D), were evaluated at 0, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of life. Results: At multivariable regression performed using generalized estimating equations, early RBP levels and maternal body mass index were associated to average weight changes and early RBP and insulin levels to average length changes, respectively. There was no difference between GDM-I and GDM-D infants. Conclusions: This exploratory study suggests that early RBP levels may be a predictor of growth changes. \uc2\ua9 2012 The Authors