The role of long-chain fatty acids in the pathogenesis of the Metabolic Syndrome

The lipid composition of arterial walls changes during development, ageing and pathological processes. Preeclampsia is the most common pregnancy-associated pathological syndrome. It is accompanied by significant remodelling of extracellular matrix both in the umbilical cord vessels and in the surrounding Wharton’s jelly. The lipids of the umbilical cord were not studied till now, therefore it was decided to evaluate the specific features of lipid composition of the umbilical cord artery (UCA) and its alteration in preeclampsia. Thin layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography were employed for these analyses. It was found that UCA wall, as most human tissues, contains free fatty acids, mono-, diand triacylglycerols, free cholesterol and its esters. The characteristic feature of UCA wall is the presence of high amount of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6), which are rather minor lipid components of most human tissues. They exist both in a free form and in a form of acylglycerols and cholesterol esters. Preeclampsia is associated with a deep decrease in most free fatty acids and acylglycerols. The total amount of long chain PUFA: C18:2, C:18:3, C20:4, C20:5 and C22:6 in these lipid fractions decreased by half. In the same time an increase in free cholesterol and its esters was observed. The role of these phenomena in pathobiology of UCA and foetal circulation is discussed. The shortage of PUFA may reduce prostaglandin synthesis in arterial wall and impair blood flow in foetal vascular system. L9.2