SUPPRESSION OF HUMAN T-CELL GROWTH IN-VITRO BY CIS-UNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS - RELATIONSHIP TO FREE-RADICALS AND LIPID-PEROXIDATION

Cis-unsaturated fatty acids such as dihomogamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which form pre cursors to 1, 2 and 3 series prostaglandins (PGs), have been shown to suppress human T-cell growth in vitro by a prostaglandin E (PGE)-indep endent mechanism. In an earlier study, we showed that these fatty acid s can induce free radical generation in human neutrophils and tumor ce lls. Here we show that cis-unsaturated fatty acids augment free radica l generation and lipid peroxidation in human T-cells. The growth suppr essive action of cis-unsaturated fatty acids on human T-cells could be blocked by anti-oxidant, vitamin E and the superoxide anion quencher superoxide dismutase. These results suggest that c-UFAs-induced cell g rowth suppression is a free radical dependent process.