title: Nuclear factor kB is activated by arachidonic acid but not by eicosapentaenoic acid.
abstract: The omega-6 arachidonic acid supplementation of the human promonocytic cell line U937 strongly stimulates the nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NF-kB. Inhibitors of arachidonate oxidative metabolism prevent NF-kB activation, indirectly indicating a role for prostaglandin and leukotriene metabolites in the genesis of this phenomenon. Of note, omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid does not exert any effect on NF-kB DNA binding. In subsequent experiments, prostaglandin E2 consistently showed the ability to activate NF-kB in U937 promonocytic cells, as well as in J774 macrophages. NF-kB activation by arachidonate, together with the lack of effect by eicosapentaenoic acid, suggests a way to modulate the expression of certain genes by means of a suitable dietary n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Oncology, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Camandola
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leonarduzzi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Musso
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Varesio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scavazza
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiarpotto
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Baeuerle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poli
mesh_terms: D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001692:Biological Transport; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D004247:DNA; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D015232:Dinoprostone