title: The omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, decreases neuronal cell death in association with altered zinc transport.
abstract: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the major polyunsaturated fatty acid in neuronal cell membranes. We hypothesize that DHA induces a decrease in neuronal cell death through reduced ZnT3 expression and zinc uptake. Exposure of M17 cells to DHA-deficient medium increased the levels of active caspase-3, relative to levels in DHA-replete cells, confirming the adverse effects of DHA deficiency in promoting neuronal cell death. In DHA-treated M17 cells, zinc uptake was 65% less and ZnT3 mRNA and protein levels were reduced in comparison with DHA-depleted cells. We propose that the neuroprotective function of DHA is exerted through a reduction in cellular zinc levels that in turn inhibits apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. cenk.suphioglu@deakin.edu
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suphioglu
authors.forename: Damitha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Mel
authors.forename: Loveleen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sadli
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Freestone
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michalczyk
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: M Leigh
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ackland
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; C102806:SLC30A3 protein, human; C504822:SLC30A6 protein, human; C472294:SLC30A7 protein, human; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D053148:Caspase 3; D015032:Zinc