title: Inhibition of neuronal apoptosis by polyunsaturated fatty acids.
abstract: The effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA) and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6; AA), on apoptotic cell death was evaluated based on DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity induced by serum starvation using Neuro-2A and PC-12 cells. The presence of 20:4n-6 in the medium during serum starvation decreased DNA fragmentation and this initial protective effect was diminished with prolonged serum starvation. The observed protective effect of 20:4n-6 was not affected by the inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase. Conversely, 22:6n-3 became protective only after the enrichment of cells with this fatty acid at least for 24 h prior to the serum deprivation. DNA fragmentation as well as caspase-3 activity was reduced in 22:6n-3 enriched cells with a concomitant decrease in protein and mRNA levels. During the enrichment period, 22:6n-3 steadily increased its incorporation into PS leading to a significant increase in the total PS content; the protective effect of 22:6n-3 paralleled the PS accumulation. Neither direct exposure of cells to nor enrichment with 18:1n-9 had any protective effect. In conclusion, it is proposed that 20:4n-6 prevents neuronal apoptosis primarily due to the action of nonesterified 20:4n-6 but 22:6n-3, at least in part, through PS accumulation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, NIAAA, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. hykim@nih.gov
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases