title: Gene expression of desaturase (FADS1 and FADS2) and Elongase (ELOVL5) enzymes in peripheral blood: association with polyunsaturated fatty acid levels and atopic eczema in 4-year-old children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is unknown if changes in the gene expression of the desaturase and elongase enzymes are associated with abnormal n-6 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) levels in children with atopic eczema (AE). We analyzed whether mRNA-expression of genes encoding key enzymes of LC-PUFA synthesis (FADS1, FADS2 and ELOVL5) is associated with circulating LC-PUFA levels and risk of AE in 4-year-old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  AE (n=20) and non-AE (n=104) children participating in the Sabadell cohort within the INfancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) Project were included in the present study. RT-PCR with TaqMan Low-Density Array cards was used to measure the mRNA-expression of FADS1, FADS2 and ELOVL5. LC-PUFA levels were measured by fast gas chromatography in plasma phospholipids. The relationship of gene expression with LC-PUFA levels and enzyme activities was evaluated by Pearson's rank correlation coefficient, and logistic regression models were used to study its association with risk of developing AE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with AE had lower levels of several n-6 PUFA members, dihomo-γ-linolenic (DGLA) and arachidonic (AA) acids. mRNA-expression levels of FADS1 and 2 strongly correlated with DGLA levels and with D6D activity. FADS2 and ELOVL5 mRNA-expression levels were significantly lower in AE than in non-AE children (-40.30% and -20.36%; respectively), but no differences were found for FADS1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in the mRNA-expression levels of FADS1 and 2 directly affect blood DGLA levels and D6D activity. This study suggests that lower mRNA-expressions of FADS2 and ELOVL5 are associated with higher risk of atopic eczema in young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Spanish Government, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Aida Maribel
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chisaguano
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pérez-Berezo
authors.forename: Ana Isabel
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Castellote
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerendiain
authors.forename: Mariona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García-Esteban
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sunyer
authors.forename: Angels
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franch
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: López-Sabater
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood*; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; C000630954:ELOVL5 protein, human; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; C000716847:FADS1 protein, human; C533241:FADS2 protein, human; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D000081031:Fatty Acid Elongases