n-3 fatty acids specifically modulate catabolic factors involved in articular cartilage degradation

J Biol Chem. 2000 Jan 14;275(2):721-4. doi: 10.1074/jbc.275.2.721.

Abstract

This study describes specific molecular mechanisms by which supplementation with n-3 fatty acids (i.e. those present in fish oils) can modulate the expression and activity of degradative and inflammatory factors that cause cartilage destruction during arthritis. Our data show that incorporation of n-3 fatty acids (but not other polyunsaturated or saturated fatty acids) into articular cartilage chondrocyte membranes results in a dose-dependent reduction in: (i) the expression and activity of proteoglycan degrading enzymes (aggrecanases) and (ii) the expression of inflammation-inducible cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1alpha and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2), but not the constitutively expressed cyclooxygenase COX-1. These findings provide evidence that n-3 fatty acid supplementation can specifically affect regulatory mechanisms involved in chondrocyte gene transcription and thus further advocate a beneficial role for dietary fish oil supplementation in alleviation of several of the physiological parameters that cause and propogate arthritic disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cartilage, Articular / cytology
  • Cartilage, Articular / drug effects
  • Cartilage, Articular / physiology*
  • Cattle
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • DNA Primers
  • Endopeptidases / biosynthesis*
  • Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Interleukin-1 / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukin-1 / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / biosynthesis*
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Membrane Lipids / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / biosynthesis*
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Interleukin-1
  • Isoenzymes
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • Endopeptidases
  • aggrecanase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF192770
  • GENBANK/AF192771