title: MAG-EPA resolves lung inflammation in an allergic model of asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by airways hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and airways remodelling involving reversible bronchial obstruction. Omega-3 fatty acids and their derivatives are known to reduce inflammation in several tissues including lung.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The effects of eicosapentaenoic acid monoacylglyceride (MAG-EPA), a newly synthesized EPA derivative, were determined on the resolution of lung inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in an in vivo model of allergic asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized guinea-pigs were treated or not with MAG-EPA administered per os. Isometric tension measurements, histological analyses, homogenate preparation for Western blot experiments or total RNA extraction for RT-PCR were performed to assess the effect of MAG-EPA treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mechanical tension measurements revealed that oral MAG-EPA treatments reduced methacholine (MCh)-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness in OVA-sensitized guinea-pigs. Moreover, MAG-EPA treatments also decreased Ca(2+) hypersensitivity of bronchial smooth muscle. Histological analyses and leucocyte counts in bronchoalveolar lavages revealed that oral MAG-EPA treatments led to less inflammatory cell recruitment in the lung of OVA-sensitized guinea-pigs when compared with lungs from control animals. Results also revealed a reduction in mucin production and MUC5AC expression level in OVA-sensitized animals treated with MAG-EPA. Following MAG-EPA treatments, the transcript levels of pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-5, eotaxin, IL-13 and IL-4 were markedly reduced. Moreover, per os MAG-EPA administrations reduced COX2 over-expression in OVA-sensitized animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrate that MAG-EPA reduces airway hyperresponsiveness and lung inflammation in OVA-sensitized animals, a finding consistent with a decrease in IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, COX-2 and MUC5AC expression levels in the lung. The present data suggest that MAG-EPA represents a new potential therapeutic strategy for resolving inflammation in allergic asthma.
authors: SCF Pharma, Ste-Luce, QC, Canada.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Morin
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Fortin
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Cantin
authors: É
authors: É
authors: Rousseau
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D050178:Monoglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000009:adverse effects; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C588285:1-eicosapentaenoylglycerol; D000485:Allergens; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids; D050178:Monoglycerides; D009077:Mucins; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D010047:Ovalbumin; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2
keywords: COX-2; EPA; MUC5AC; asthma; pro-inflammatory cytokines