摘要

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-C-14] alpha-linolenic acid (alpha-LNA) and [1-C-14] linoleic acid (LA) respectively, and on the metabolism of [1-C-14] 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 +/- 7.2 to 74.3 +/- 8.5%, p < 0.05). HepG2 cells also converted LA and alpha-LNA, but simvastatin increased significantly only the conversion of LA (9.5 +/- 1.9% versus 23.8 +/- 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.

  • 出版日期2005-4-1