title: Abdominal aortic aneurysm and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Mechanisms, animal models, and potential treatment.
abstract: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an inflammatory disease associated with macrophage accumulation in the adventitia, oxidative stress, medial elastin degradation and aortic dilation. Progression of AAA is linked to increased risk of rupture, which carries a high mortality rate. Drug therapies trialled to date lack efficacy and although aneurysm repair is available for patients with large aneurysm, peri-surgical morbidity and mortality have been widely reported. Recent studies using rodent models of AAA suggest that long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFAs) and their metabolites can moderate inflammation and oxidative stress perpetuated by infiltrating macrophages and intervene in the destruction of medial elastin. This review examines evidence from these animal studies and related reports of inhibition of inflammation and arrest of aneurysm development following prophylactic supplementation with LC n-3 PUFAs. The efficacy of LC n-3 PUFAs for management of existing aneurysm is unclear and further investigations involving human clinical trials are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Inflammation and Healing Research Cluster, School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Lara T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Meital
authors.affiliation: Inflammation and Healing Research Cluster, School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Shaun L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Sandow
authors.affiliation: Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.affiliation: Inflammation and Healing Research Cluster, School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: frussell@usc.edu.au.
authors.forename: Fraser D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000178:diet therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords: Abdominal aortic aneurysm; Inflammation; Long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; Oxidative stress