Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 21, 868-873, Copyright © 1980 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Fatty acid desaturation in lung: inhibition by unsaturated fatty acids
JA Balint, EC Kyriakides and DA Beeler
The activity of the enzyme system involved in desaturation of palmitic and
stearic acid has been examined in lungs of rats fed fat-free diets
supplemented either with 4% safflower oil (controls) or 4% tripalmitin
(essential fatty acid (EFA) deficient) both in vivo and in vitro in lung
slices. Desaturation, as measured by appearance of 14C-labeled
monounsaturated fatty acid in pulmonary total lipid and phospholipids, was
significantly greater in vivo and in vitro in lung tissue from EFA-
deficient rats. In vitro peincubation of lung slices for 1 to 4 hr with 1
mM oleic, linoleic, or linolenic acid reduced the extent of desaturation of
[1-14C]-stearic acid significantly in both dietary groups, but the effect
was greater in EFA-deficient tissues. The effect of linoleic acid was
always greater than that of oleic acid. Preincubation with palmitic acid
and 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 was without effect. Thus: 1) EFA deficiency has
been shown to enhance desaturation of palmitic and stearic acid in lung; 2)
in vitro addition of linoleic or linolenic acid inhibited desaturation
significantly; and 3) oleic acid was inhibitory but to a lesser and more
variable extent. Palmitic acid was not inhibitory.
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