Activity of the leukocyte NADPH oxidase in whole neutrophils and cell-free neutrophil preparations stimulated with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Fish oils are known for their anti-inflammatory effects. In this paper we investigated the influence of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (omega-3 fatty acids), as well as docosapentaenoic acid, a metabolic product of omega-3 fatty acid metabolism, on O2(-)-production catalyzed by the NADPH oxidase in whole neutrophils and in a cell-free system consisting of neutrophil membranes and cytosol. As a standard we used arachidonic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) found in a high proportion in the Western diet, and known as an effective activator of the oxidase in both systems. Our data show that with omega-3 fatty acids, the O2(-)-production in both systems is reduced as compared to the effect of arachidonic acid. The effects are more pronounced with increasing carbon chain length and increasing numbers of double bonds. Our results suggest another mechanism besides the inhibition of eicosanoid and cytokine production to explain the beneficial effects of fish oils in reducing inflammation.
Schneider
S M
SM
Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Fung
V S
VS
Palmblad
J
J
Babior
B M
BM
D000328:Adult; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D002474:Cell-Free System; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D013481:Superoxides; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C026219:docosapentaenoic acid