Exogenous tetracosahexaenoic acid modifies the fatty acid composition of human primary T lymphocytes and Jurkat T cell leukemia cells contingent on cell type.

Abstract

Tetracosahexaenoic acid (24:6ω-3) is an intermediate in the conversion of 18:3ω-3 to 22:6ω-3 in mammals. There is limited information about whether cells can assimilate and metabolize exogenous 24:6ω-3. This study compared the effect of incubation with 24:6ω-3 on the fatty acid composition of two related cell types, primary CD3+ T lymphocytes and Jurkat T cell leukemia, which differ in the integrity of the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthesis pathway. 24:6ω-3 was only detected in either cell type when cells were incubated with 24:6ω-3. Incubation with 24:6ω-3 induced similar increments in the amount of 22:6ω-3 in both cell types and modified the homeoviscous adaptations fatty acid composition induced by activation of T lymphocytes. The effect of incubation with 18:3ω-3 compared to 24:6ω-3 on the increment in 22:6ω-3 was tested in Jurkat cells because primary T cells cannot convert 18:3ω-3 to 22:6ω-3. The increment in the 22:6ω-3 content of Jurkat cells incubated with 24:6ω-3 was 19.5-fold greater than that of cells incubated with 18:3ω-3. Acyl-coA oxidase siRNA knockdown decreased the amount of 22:6ω-3 and increased the amount of 24:6ω-3 in Jurkat cells. These findings show exogenous 24:6ω-3 can be incorporated into primary human T lymphocytes and Jurkat cells and induces changes in fatty acid composition consistent with its conversion to 22:6ω-3 via a mechanism involving peroxisomal β-oxidation that is regulated independently from the integrity of the upstream PUFA synthesis pathway. One further implication is that consuming 24:6ω-3 may be an effective alternative means of achieving health benefits attributed to 20:5ω-3 and 22:6ω-3.

• Authors: Nicola A Irvine, Annette L West, Johanna Von Gerichten, Elizabeth A Miles, Karen A Lillycrop, Philip C Calder, Barbara A Fielding, Graham C Burdge
• Journal: Lipids (Lipids) Vol. 58 Issue 4 Pg. 185-196 (Jul 2023) ISSN: 1558-9307 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 37177900 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Lipids published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of AOCS.

Chemical References

• Fatty Acids
• tetracosahexaenoic acid
• Docosahexaenoic Acids

Topics

• Animals
• Humans
• Fatty Acids (pharmacology, metabolism)
• Jurkat Cells
• Docosahexaenoic Acids (pharmacology)
• Leukemia, T-Cell
• Mammals