Docosahexaenoic acid selectively attenuates induction of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and subsequent monocytic cell adhesion to human endothelial cells stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Incorporation of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) but not eicosapentaenoic acid or n-6 arachidonic acid into human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) phospholipids dose-dependently reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced surface expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). In parallel, DHA inhibited TNF-alpha-stimulated monocytic U937 cell adhesion to HUVECs but did not affect TNF-alpha- or interferon gamma-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 or VCAM-1 induction by interleukin-1 beta. DHA appeared to attenuate VCAM-1 transcription, as it reduced induction of VCAM-1 mRNA by TNF-alpha. VCAM-1 induction is regulated by activation of nuclear factor-kappa B, which can be mediated by a TNF-alpha-responsive phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC). Gel-shift analysis showed inhibition of TNF-alpha-induced nuclear factor-kappa B mobilization by DHA. While the PC-PLC inhibitor D609 dose-dependently prevented VCAM-1 induction by TNF-alpha, 1,2-diacyl-glycerol (DAG) stimulated VCAM-1 expression, suggesting that VCAM-1 induction by TNF-alpha may be mediated by activation of PC-PLC. Treatment with DHA resulted in a fourfold enrichment in PC. In addition, DHA or D609 but not eicosapentaenoic acid or arachidonic acid suppressed activation of PC-PLC by TNF-alpha, estimated as [14C]DAG synthesis in prelabeled HUVECs. Incorporation of DHA into phospholipids selectively attenuates VCAM-1 induction by TNF-alpha and subsequent monocytic cell adhesion by inhibition of TNF-alpha-stimulated PC-PLC activation in HUVECs.