Differential effects of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids upon oxidant-stimulated release and uptake of arachidonic acid in human lymphoma U937 cells.

O Obajimi, Kenny Black, DJ MacDonald, RM Boyle, Ian Glen, Brian Ross

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The use of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, as found in fish-oil derived dietary supplements, as anti-inflammatory agents is supported by a variety of biochemical and physiological data. Recent studies investigating the therapeutic potential of long chain (> C20) n-3 fatty acids in mental illness have lead to the conclusion, however, that not all n-3 fatty acid types are equally efficacious. In particular eicosapentaeoic acid (EPA) appears to possess antidepressant and antipsychotic activity, while docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) does not, an effect suggested to be due to a differential ability to antagonize arachidonic acid(AA)-dependent cell signalling. In this study, we examine the effect of EPA and DHA supplementation upon uptake and release of arachidonic acid stimulated by !ert-butyl hydroperoxide/Fe2- in U937 cells. Oxidant-stimulated H-3-AA release from cells was enhanced by pre-treatment with EPA, DHA and AA, but not stearic or oleic acids for 18 days, with the order of effect magnitude being EPA > DHA = AA. Supplementation of cells for 1 day gave qualitatively similar results, although the effect magnitude was smaller. To determine whether enhanced release was due to decreased reuptake of AA, cells were cultured in the presence of 10 mu M fatty acids. Pre-treatment of cells with EPA, and to a lesser extent AA, but not DHA, inhibited uptake of 3H-AA measured subsequent to the removal of unesterfied fatty acids. This study suggests that, in U937 cells, EPA can alter the rate of uptake and release of AA from phospholipids in an exposure time-dependent manner, whereas DHA has no or little effect. Our results predict that EPA will have a more pronounced effect upon AA-dependent processes compared to DHA, and suggests that the relative amounts of EPA and DHA in fish oil supplements may modify their biochemical, and potentially, behavioural effects. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)183-191
Number of pages9
JournalPHARM RES
Volume52
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005

Keywords

  • MAJOR DEPRESSION
  • UNIPOLAR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  • VASODILATORY RESPONSE
  • POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS
  • PHOSPHOLIPASE A(2)
  • PPAR-ALPHA
  • DOUBLE-BLIND
  • ETHYL-EICOSAPENTAENOATE
  • PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL
  • OXIDIZED OMEGA-3-FATTY-ACIDS

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