The effect of linoleic acid on the sensitivity of human lymphocytes to cortisol and their capacity to catabolize the steroid.

We have shown previously that cortisol-sensitive lymphocytes (thymocytes) have a much lower capacity than cortisol-resistant cells to catabolize cortisol. In the present study, we attempt to demonstrate that inhibition of cortisol catabolism may make cortisol-resistant lymphocytes vulnerable to the steroid. Linoleic acid, which has the capacity to inhibit the catabolism of cortisol by lymphocytes, was used for this purpose. By using various concentrations of linoleic acid (20-60 micrograms/mL) we showed an inverse linear relationship between linoleic acid concentration and the rate of cortisol catabolism by lymphocytes. During this experiment which took 17 h the viability of cells did not change significantly (minimum viability 95%), even at the highest concentration of linoleic acid. Keeping the metabolism of cortisol at a level of 40% of that obtained by the control, by adding linoleic acid to lymphocyte cultures (50 micrograms/mL) and measuring the viability of the cells for a period of 3 days in the presence or absence of cortisol, we were able to show a rise in the death rate of the cells which started after 24 h of incubation owing to the presence of the steroid.