Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn-6) algal oils reduce inflammatory mediators in human peripheral mononuclear cells in vitro and paw edema in vivo.
The anti-inflammatory activity associated with fish oil has been ascribed to the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), predominantly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Here we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of two DHA-rich algal oils, which contain little EPA, and determined the contribution of the constituent fatty acids, particularly DHA and docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn-6). In vitro, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was inhibited with apparent relative potencies of DPAn-6 (most potent) > DHA > EPA. In addition, DPAn-6 decreased intracellular levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and was a potent inhibitor of pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. DHA/DPAn-6-rich DHA-S (DHA-S) algal oil was more effective at reducing edema in rats than DHA-rich DHA-T (DHA-T), suggesting that DPAn-6 has anti-inflammatory properties. Further in vivo analyses demonstrated that feeding DPAn-6 alone, provided as an ethyl ester, reduced paw edema to an extent approaching that of indomethacin and enhanced the anti-inflammatory activity of DHA when given in combination. Together, these results demonstrate that DPAn-6 has anti-inflammatory activity and enhances the effect of DHA in vitro and in vivo. Thus, DHA-S algal oil may have potential for use in anti-inflammatory applications.
Nauroth
Julie M
JM
Martek Biosciences Corporation, 6480 Dobbin Road, Columbia, MD 21045, USA. jnauroth@martek.com
Liu
Ying Chun
YC
Van Elswyk
Mary
M
Bell
Rebecca
R
Hall
Eileen Bailey
EB
Chung
Gloria
G
Arterburn
Linda M
LM
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000737:chemistry*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000187:drug effects; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000187:drug effects
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D009821:Oils; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C026219:docosapentaenoic acid