Saturated, unsaturated, and trans-fatty acids modulate oxidative burst induced by high dextrose in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Abstract

Objective: We determined whether hyperglycemia-induced oxidative burst is augmented in the presence of saturated, unsaturated, and trans-fatty acids (FAs).

Methods: The time course of superoxide (O2-) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells treated with 5.5 mM (D100) or 27.5 mM (D500) of dextrose and select FAs were measured using the hydroethidene fluorescence method.

Results: The rate of O2- production in cells treated with D500 was significantly higher (55% to 125% increase) than the rate observed in control cells treated with D100 (P < 0.001). The rate of O2- production (mean +/- standard deviation, in arbitrary units) was increased when cells were treated with 250, 500, and 1000 muM of myristic acid (C14; 0.189 +/- 0.04, 0.240 +/- 0.04, 0.234 +/- 0.02, respectively; P > 0.1, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, respectively), palmitate (C16; 0.151 +/- 0.03, 0.218 +/- 0.01, 0.289 +/- 0.07; P > 0.1, P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and stearic acid (C18; 0.321 +/- 0.03, 0.259 +/- 0.02, 0.341 +/- 0.03; P < 0.01 for all comparisons) compared with control cells treated with D100 only (0.184 +/- 0.01). In the presence of D500, myristic acid did not significantly augment O2- production, whereas stearic acid caused a significant further increase in O2- production. The cis unsaturated FA (oleic, C18:1; linoleic, C18:2; or linolenic acid, C18:3) stimulated O2- production significantly more than did saturated FA or trans-unsaturated FA such as elaidic, linolelaidic, or linolenelaidic acid.

Conclusions: Fatty acids have the ability to modulate oxidative load in hyperglycemia and this effect may be related to the length, saturation, and possibly cis/trans orientation of the FA.