title: Docosahexaenoic acid enhances cyclooxygenase-2 induction by facilitating p44/42, but not p38, mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.
abstract: The effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on cyclooxygenase expression induced by interleukin (IL)-1beta and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was investigated in order to clarify the cellular mechanism of cardiovascular protective effects. DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid slightly enhanced IL-1beta-induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, but not COX-1, expression, whereas arachidonic acid had no effect. DHA also slightly enhanced PMA-induced COX-2 expression. DHA stimulated both rapid and prolonged activation of p44/42, but not p38, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) induced by IL-1beta and PMA. These results suggest that DHA enhances the COX-2 expression by selectively facilitating p44/42 MAPK activation in VSMCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Machida
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamaue
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirafuji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D007375:Interleukin-1; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; C016658:phorbolol myristate acetate; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate