Korean J Nutr.  2006 Jun;39(4):357-365.

Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) on the Apoptosis of Human Endothelial ECV304 Cells

• Kim YY
• Kim H
• Kim MH
• Jang S
• Lee M

Abstract

DHA, one of w-3 fatty acids, modulates cell growth or death though the changes of apoptotic signaling in human endothelial ECV304 cells. We investigated the effects of DHA on the changes of apoptotic signaling in human vascular endothelial ECV304 cells using lipid peroxidation (LPO) metabolites. LPO could be originated by dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA caused cell death of ECV304 cells compared to LA, AA or control as evidenced by changes in cell morphology and MTT assay. LPO levels was significantly elevated by 10 fold in DHA-treated ECV 304 cells and caspase-3 activity was increased by DHA corresponding to increasing incubation times compared to control. One of reasons of the cell death in DHA-treated ECV304 cells could be expected that caspase activity, marker for mitochondrial damages, might be triggered by the increasing LPO levels. Our results strongly indicated that DHA induced LPO production has an important role on apoptotic signaling pathway in ECV304 cells. LPO production in endothelial cells which was metabolized by oxidation of dietary PUFA, might be one of risk factors in the initial progression of atherosclerosis.

Keyword

DHA; LA; AA; apoptosis; human endothelial ECV304 cells; caspase-3; mitochondrial damage

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis*
Arachidonic Acid
Atherosclerosis
Caspase 3
Cell Death
Endothelial Cells
Fatty Acids
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
Humans*
Linoleic Acid
Lipid Peroxidation
Risk Factors
Arachidonic Acid
Caspase 3
Fatty Acids
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
Linoleic Acid