Oleic Acid Versus Linoleic and α-Linolenic Acid. Different Effects on Ca2+ Signaling in Rat Thymocytes

• Published in: Cellular physiology and biochemistry Vol. 27; no. 3-4; pp. 373 - 380
• Main Authors: Carrillo, Celia, Cavia, Ma del Mar, Alonso-Torre, Sara R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland 01.01.2011
• Subjects: alpha-Linolenic Acid - pharmacology; Animals; Calcium - metabolism; Calcium Signaling - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Econazole - pharmacology; Fura-2 - pharmacology; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate - metabolism; Linoleic Acid - pharmacology; Male; Nifedipine - pharmacology; Oleic Acid - pharmacology; Original Paper; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Thapsigargin - pharmacology; Thyroid Gland - cytology; Thyroid Gland - drug effects; Thyroid Gland - metabolism; Ca2+ signaling; Rat thymocytes; Oleic acid; α-Linolenic acid; Linoleic acid
• ISSN: 1015-8987; 1421-9778
• DOI: 10.1159/000327963

Background: Oleic acid is the principal fatty acid of olive oil composition and is reported to play a crucial role in its healthy aspects. However, the detailed mechanism of action is poorly understood. Aims: This study aims to elucidate the role of oleic acid in calcium signaling in rat thymocytes, in comparison to linoleic and linolenic acid. Methods: Fatty acids were applied to thymocytes isolated from wistar rats and loaded with Fura-2 to measure calcium signals. Results: The main results showed a concentration-dependent increase in [Ca 2+ ] i induced by the 3 fatty acids. Raising the number of unsaturations resulted in greater increases. Two different pathways contributed to the increase induced by the polyunsaturated fatty acids: an IP 3 - independent release from the thapsigargin-sensitive stores and an extracellular calcium entry by econazole and nifedipine-insensitive channels. However, the OA-induced increases in [Ca 2+ ] i seemed to be due mostly to the Ca 2+ recruited from the intracellular stores. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the fatty acids tested induce increases in [Ca 2+ ] i in rat thymocytes, with differences in close relation to the degree of unsaturation. Such differences could be responsible for their different physiological action.