Linoleic acid and arachidonic acid metabolism in human peripheral blood leucocytes: comparison with the rat

Abstract

1. Peripheral blood leucocytes from human male volunteers and from male rats were incubated in vitro in the presence of 14C-labelled linoleic acid ([14C]LA) or 3H-labelled arachidonic acid ([3H]AA). The time-course of [14C]LA and [3H]AA incorporation into human leucocyte total lipids was maximal at 80–90% of the initial dose within 20–30 min of dosing the cells. 2. Compared with mixed leucocytes, isolated polymorphonuclear leucocytes were only marginally different in the differential incorporation of [14C]LA and [3H]AA into total lipids. 3. In human leucocytes, [14C]LA was incorporated initially into triglycerides but predominantly into phosphatidylcholine thereafter. In the rat, [14C]LA remained as the free acid (63%), with lesser amounts entering the phospholipids (9%), monoglycerides-diglycerides (12%) and triglycerides (< 1%). 4. Utilization of [14C]LA by the Δ6-desaturase was only a minor route of its metabolism in both human and rat leucocytes. 5. 3H-labelled prostaglandins E2 and F2α accounted for up to 30% of the radioactivity released into the incubation medium from human leucocytes incubated with [3H]AA for 60 min. 6. Stimulation of phagocytosis in the human leucocytes with latex beads or with unopsonized zymosan did not alter the differential incorporation of [14C]LA or [3H]AA into the leucocyte lipid fractions.