LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF CIS-LINOLEIC ACID INDUCE CELL-DAMAGE IN EPITHELIAL-CELLS FROM BOVINE LENSES

As low as 5 mu mol/l of cis-linoleic acid proves to be cytotoxic fur b ovine lens epithelial cells in culture, Albumin eliminates the linolei c acid cytotoxicity completely presumably by binding the Fatty acid, H owever, the damaging effect appears again when the molar ratio of lino leic acid to albumin exceeds 1:1, The assumption that the linoleic aci d-mused cell damage would be mediated by peroxidation products could n ot be confirmed, The results obtained rather favor the idea that linol eic acid molecules themselves injure lens epithelial cells. Obviously cell damage even occurs in the presence of albumin if one molecule of albumin binds more than one molecule of linoleic acid, Micromolar conc entrations of linoleic acid produce reversible bleb formation as well as cell retraction within 30 min. In primary culture 10 mu mol/l linol eic acid damage lens epithelial cells irreversibly within some hours, Trans-linoleic acid, linolenic acid and oleic acid are also harmful to lens cells but to a lesser degree, while saturated fatty acids are wi thout any effect, Bleb formation as a leading early sign hints at the plasma membrane as the primary target for linoleic acid induced cytoto xicity.