Epidermal anti-Inflammatory properties of 5,11,14 20:3: effects on mouse ear edema, PGE2 levels in cultured keratinocytes, and PPAR activation.
BACKGROUND
5,11,14 20:3 is similar to 20:4n-6 but lacks the internal Delta8 double bond essential for prostaglandin and eicosanoid synthesis. When previously fed to laboratory animals as a gymnosperm seed oil component it has shown anti-inflammatory properties.


RESULTS
Herein, topically applied Podocarpus nagi methyl esters (containing 26% 5,11,14 20:3) were incorporated into mouse ear phospholipids, reduced 20:4n-6, and reduced 20:4n-6- and TPA-induced mouse ear edema. Purified 5,11,14 20:3 was taken up by cultured human skin keratinocytes, reduced 20:4n-6, and reduced PGE2 levels dramatically. Purified 5,11,14 20:3 did not affect PPARalpha, PPARgamma, or PPARdelta transactivation.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical application of 5,11,14 20:3 to skin surfaces can thus reduce inflammatory processes, most likely by displacing 20:4n-6 from phospholipid pools and reducing downstream inflammatory products derived from 20:4n-6 such as PGE2 and leukotrienes. It could have potential use in treating clinical skin disorders resulting from overproduction of 20:4n-6-derived eicosanoid products.
Berger
Alvin
A
Nestlé Research Center, Vers-Chez-les-Blanc, 1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland. alvin@cytochroma.com
Monnard
Irina
I
Baur
Markus
M
Charbonnet
Corinne
C
Safonova
Irina
I
Jomard
André
A