Absorption and metabolism of cis-9,trans-11-CLA and of its oxidation product 9,11-furan fatty acid by Caco-2 cells

Lipids. 2012 Apr;47(4):435-42. doi: 10.1007/s11745-012-3653-6. Epub 2012 Jan 18.

Abstract

Furan fatty acids (furan-FA) can be formed by auto-oxidation of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) and may therefore be ingested when CLA-containing foodstuff is consumed. Due to the presence of a furan ring structure, furan-FA may have toxic properties, however, these substances are toxicologically not well characterized so far. Here we show that 9,11-furan-FA, the oxidation product of the major CLA isomer cis-9,trans-11-CLA (c9,t11-CLA), is not toxic to human intestinal Caco-2 cells up to a level of 100 μM. Oil-Red-O staining indicated that 9,11-furan-FA as well as c9,t11-CLA and linoleic acid are taken up by the cells and stored in the form of triglycerides in lipid droplets. Chemical analysis of total cellular lipids revealed that 9,11-furan-FA is partially elongated probably by the enzymatic activity of cellular fatty acid elongases whereas c9,t11-CLA is partially converted to other isomers such as c9,c11-CLA or t9,t11-CLA. In the case of 9,11-furan-FA, there is no indication for any modification or activation of the furan ring system. From these results, we conclude that 9,11-furan-FA has no properties of toxicological relevance at least for Caco-2 cells which serve as a model for enterocytes of the human small intestine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Acetyltransferases / metabolism
  • Azo Compounds
  • Biotransformation
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Enterocytes / metabolism
  • Fatty Acid Elongases
  • Furans / metabolism*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Humans
  • Isomerism
  • Linoleic Acids, Conjugated / metabolism*
  • Linoleic Acids, Conjugated / pharmacology
  • Lipid Metabolism*
  • Models, Biological
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Triglycerides / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Azo Compounds
  • Furans
  • Linoleic Acids, Conjugated
  • Triglycerides
  • Acetyltransferases
  • Fatty Acid Elongases
  • oil red O