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N-3 and n-6 fatty acid metabolism in undifferentiated and differentiated human intestine cell line (Caco-2)

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Abstract

Metabolism of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in the undifferentiated and differentiated human adenocarcinoma colon cell line (Caco-2) was studied. In cells incubated with either 18∶2n-6 or 18∶3n-3, no significant amounts of long chain n-6 and n-3 metabolites were found. Incubation with either 18∶3n-6 or 18∶4n-3 raised significantly the levels of 20∶3n-6 and 20∶4n-3, respectively. In the undifferentiated cells, significant proportions of 20∶3n-6 and 20∶4n-3 were further Δ5-desaturated to form 20∶4n-6 and 20∶5n-3, respectively. Incubation with either 20∶4n-6 or 20∶5n-3 raised the levels of their direct elongation products, 22∶4n-6 and 22∶5n-3, respectively. Incubation with 22∶4n-6 or 22∶5n-3 increased the levels of 20∶4n-6 and 20∶5n-6. These results suggest that Δ6-desaturation in the Caco-2 cells is less active in comparision with elongation, Δ5-desaturation and retro-conversion. These enzymes were modulated by the state of differentiation, and appeared to be non-specific to n-3 and n-6 fatty acids. When cells were incubated with 18∶3n-6 and 18∶4n-3 concomitantly, the levels of incorporation of total n-6 fatty acids into cellular lipids were greater than those of the n-3 fatty acids, whereas the ratios of 20+22 carbon metabolites to 18-carbon precursor favored n-3 over n-6 fatty acids. These results suggest that n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were not metabolized identically in Caco-2 cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Nutritional R&D, Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories, 625 Cleveland Avenue, 43215-1724, Columbus, OH, USA

    Yung-Sheng Huang, Jim-Wen Liu & Kazunori Koba

  2. Pediatric Nutritional R&D, Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories, 625 Cleveland Avenue, 43215-1724, Columbus, OH, USA

    Steven N. Anderson

Authors
  1. Yung-Sheng Huang
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  2. Jim-Wen Liu
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  3. Kazunori Koba
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Huang, YS., Liu, JW., Koba, K. et al. N-3 and n-6 fatty acid metabolism in undifferentiated and differentiated human intestine cell line (Caco-2). Mol Cell Biochem 151, 121–130 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01322334

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01322334

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