Polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolites in brain function and disease.
The brain is highly enriched with fatty acids. These include the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, which are largely esterified to the phospholipid cell membrane. Once PUFAs are released from the membrane, they can participate in signal transduction, either directly or after enzymatic conversion to a variety of bioactive derivatives ('mediators'). PUFAs and their mediators regulate several processes within the brain, such as neurotransmission, cell survival and neuroinflammation, and thereby mood and cognition. PUFA levels and the signalling pathways that they regulate are altered in various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and major depression. Diet and drugs targeting PUFAs may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of brain disorders.
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E2, Canada.
Richard P
RP
Bazinet
1] INRA, Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, 33076 Bordeaux, France. [2] University of Bordeaux, Nutrition et Neurobiologie Intégrée, UMR 1286, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
Sophie
S
Layé
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated