Uptake and oxidation of elaidic acid by Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

The present studies were designed to investigate some aspects of trans fatty acid metabolism by Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, i.e., uptake, oxidation and incorporation into cellular lipids. Elaidic acid (18:1delta9, trans) was compared with its cis counterpart (oleic acid) and with stearic acid (18:0) in its metabolism. These studies indicate that tumor cells take up elaidic acid at the same rate as stearic acids. Stearic acid is taken up at a higher rate than oleic acid. The oxidation of these fatty acids to CO2 by tumor cells followed the same pattern of uptake, i.e., elaidic acid was oxidized at the same rate as stearic acid but at a higher rate than oleic acid. In that tumor cells are different from the normal cells that are known to oxidize trans fatty acids at a slower rate as compared with their cis counterparts. The incorporation of these fatty acids into tumor cell lipids was found to be different. These data indicate that tumor cells handle elaidic acid differently than normal cells in some aspects of its metabolism.