title: Effects of n-3 fatty acids on cartilage metabolism.
abstract: Although the clinical benefits of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) has been recognised for a number of years, the molecular mechanisms by which particular PUFA affect metabolism of cells within the synovial joint tissues are not understood. This study set out to investigate how n-3 PUFA and other classes of fatty acids affect both degradative and inflammatory aspects of metabolism of articular cartilage chondrocytes using an in vitro model of cartilage degradation. Using well-established culture models, cartilage explants from normal bovine and human osteoarthritic cartilage were supplemented with either n-3 or n-6 PUFA, and cultures were subsequently treated with interleukin 1 to initiate catabolic processes that mimic cartilage degradation in arthritis. Results show that supplementation specifically with n-3 PUFA, but not n-6 PUFA, causes a decrease in both degradative and inflammatory aspects of chondrocyte metabolism, whilst having no effect on the normal tissue homeostasis. Collectively, our data provide evidence supporting dietary supplementation of n-3 PUFA, which in turn may have a beneficial effect of slowing and reducing inflammation in the pathogenesis of degenerative joint diseases in man.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Clare L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Sarah G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cramp
authors.forename: Carl R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Flannery
authors.forename: Clare E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Chris B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: Rhys
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Colin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dent
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Harwood
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caterson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D011509:Proteoglycans