N-3 BUT NOT N-6 FATTY-ACIDS REDUCE THE EXPRESSION OF THE COMBINED ADHESION AND SCAVENGER RECEPTOR CD36 IN HUMAN MONOCYTIC CELLS

CD36, a multifunctional adhesion receptor e.g. for thrombospondin and collagen, as well as a scavenger receptor for oxidized low density lip oprotein, is expressed e.g. on platelets and monocytes. By this dual r ole it might be involved in early steps of atherosclerosis like the re cruitment of monocytes and formation of foam cells. We therefore studi ed the effects of n-3 fatty acids on CD36 expression in human monocyti c cells. Incorporation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and do cosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) into cellular phospholipids resulte d in a significant reduction of CD36 expression at the mRNA and protei n level, whereas arachidonic acid (AA, C20: 4n-6) and linoleic acid (L A, C18:2n-6) tended to increase CD36 expression compared to the contro l. This specific down-regulation of CD36 by n-3 fatty acids in cells i nvolved in the initiation and progression of atherogenesis and inflamm ation, represents a further mechanism that may contribute to the benef icial effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in these disor ders.