9-trans, 11-trans-CLA: antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on bovine endothelial cells.

Endothelial cell function can be influenced by nutrition, especially dietary FA and antioxidants. One class of dietary FA that is found in meat and dairy products derived from ruminant animals is conjugated linoleic acids (CLA). We have examined the effects of several CLA isomers on endothelial cell proliferation.

Conjugated linoleic acid exhibits stimulatory and inhibitory effects on prostanoid production in human endothelial cells and platelets.

In addition to their reported antitumorigenic properties, various conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers have also been shown to decrease prostanoid synthesis as a result of inhibiting the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme. We have previously reported that several CLA isomers inhibited both platelet aggregation and formation of thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)), a proaggregatory and vasoconstrictive agent. Since the interaction between platelets and vascular endothelial cells is essential to maintaining vascular homeostasis, we decided to investigate the effects of various CLA isomers on the production of endothelial prostacyclin (PGI(2)), a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet function.