Alteration of Fatty Acid Composition of Phospholipids in EA.hy926 Endothelial Cells Is Reflected in Microvesicles during TNF-<i>α</i> Stimulation

The fatty acid composition of phospholipids in the plasma membrane affects cell function; however, these findings have primarily been observed in vitro because there are no suitable tools for monitoring phospholipid fatty acid composition of the plasma membrane in vivo. In this study, we used elaidate as a trigger for altering fatty acid composition in phospholipids and determined whether such changes are reflected in microvesicles (MVs) released from the plasma membrane. Persistent exposure of the human endothelial cell line EA.hy926 to elaidate altered the intracellular fatty acid composition of phospholipids; however, the changes occurring in whole cells were not reflected in the MV fraction during the basal state. Following stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-α, elaidate-mediated alterations in fatty acid composition of the intracellular phospholipids were observed in the MV fraction. Because the alteration of fatty acid composition of intracellular phospholipids is reflected in the plasma membrane, MVs may serve as a useful tool for monitoring the phospholipid fatty acid composition of the plasma membrane under limited conditions.