ROLE OF FATTY-ACIDS AND EICOSANOIDS IN MODULATING PROTEOGLYCAN METABOLISM IN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

Endothelial cell dysfunction is considered to be a critical event in t he etiology of atherosclerosis, Thus, the preservation of endothelial structure and function are a prerequisite for normal control of vascul ar permeability properties, mediation of both inflammatory and immunol ogic responses and the general 'communication' between blood-borne cel ls and abluminal tissues, Many of these properties can be influenced b y proteoglycans present in vascular tissues, There is evidence that se lected lipids can be atherogenic by altering endothelial proteoglycan metabolism, Little is known about the role of fatty acids in modulatin g proteoglycan composition in endothelial cells, Data suggest, however , that linoleic acid in particular can adversely alter proteoglycan me tabolism, which may be related to an imbalance in eicosanoid synthesis patterns, These events could be sufficient to disrupt normal endothel ial barrier function, initiate smooth muscle migration and proliferati on, and result in other metabolic dysfunctions associated with the eti ology of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, Thus, the focus of this review is on fatty acids and eicosanoids as they may alter prote oglycan metabolism of vascular tissues and in particular of the endoth elium.