title: N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in animal models with neuroinflammation: An update.
abstract: Neuroinflammation is a characteristic of a multitude of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Modulating inflammatory pathways offers a potential therapeutic target in these disorders. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving properties in the periphery, however, their effect on neuroinflammation is less studied. This review summarizes 61 animal studies that tested the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on neuroinflammatory outcomes in vivo in various models including stroke, spinal cord injury, aging, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, lipopolysaccharide and IL-1β injections, diabetes, neuropathic pain, traumatic brain injury, depression, surgically induced cognitive decline, whole body irradiation, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced excitotoxicity and lupus. The evidence presented in this review suggests anti-neuroinflammatory properties of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, however, it is not clear by which mechanism omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids exert their effect. Future research should aim to isolate the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on neuroinflammatory signaling in vivo and elucidate the mechanisms underlying these effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3E2.
authors.forename: Marc-Olivier
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Trépanier
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3E2.
authors.forename: Kathryn E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hopperton
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3E2.
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3E2. Electronic address: richard.bazinet@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bazinet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords: Brain; Cytokines; Docosahexaenoic acid; Microglia; Neuroinflammation; Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids