title: Functions of omega-3 fatty acids and FFA4 (GPR120) in macrophages.
abstract: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), which are plentiful in fish oil, have been known for decades to be beneficial functional nutrients in different disease states. GPR120 is a G protein-coupled receptor for long-chain unsaturated fatty acids, including n-3 PUFAs, and was recently renamed free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFA4). Studies on FFA4-deficient mice and the development of specific pharmacological tools have started to unravel the functions of FFA4 associated with the actions of n-3 PUFAs in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and inflammation-related diseases. Here, the state of the art regarding the roles and functions of FFA4 and n-3 PUFA in macrophages are reviewed from the pharmacological perspective. In particular, the functions of n-3 PUFA on the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes of macrophages in different organs, such as, adipose tissues and liver, are discussed along with future research directions.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention (MRCA) and College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: imds@pusan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dong-Soon
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Im
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
keywords: Anti-inflammation; FFA4; GPR120; Macrophage; Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid