Effects of oral eicosapentaenoic acid versus docosahexaenoic acid on human peripheral blood mononuclear cell gene expression.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have beneficial effects on inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our aim was to assess the effect of a six-week supplementation with either olive oil, EPA, or DHA on gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

METHODS:

Subjects were sampled at baseline and six weeks after receiving either: olive oil 6.0 g/day (n = 16), EPA 1.8 g/day (n = 16), or DHA 1.8 g/day (n = 18). PBMC were subjected to gene expression analysis by microarray with key findings confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR).

RESULTS:

Plasma phospholipid EPA increased 3 fold in the EPA group, and DHA increased 63% in the DHA group (both p < 0.01), while no effects were observed in the olive oil group. Microarray analysis indicated that EPA but not DHA or olive oil significantly affected the gene expression in the following pathways: 1) interferon signaling, 2) receptor recognition of bacteria and viruses, 3) G protein signaling, glycolysis and glycolytic shunting, 4) S-adenosyl-l-methionine biosynthesis, and 5) cAMP-mediated signaling including cAMP responsive element protein 1 (CREB1), as well as many other individual genes including hypoxia inducible factor 1, α subunit (HIF1A). The findings for CREB1 and HIF1A were confirmed by Q-PCR analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our data indicate that EPA supplementation was associated with significant effects on gene expression involving the interferon pathway as well as down-regulation of CREB1 and HIF1A, which may relate to its beneficial effect on CVD risk reduction.

• Authors: Fumiyoshi Tsunoda, Stefania Lamon-Fava, Bela F Asztalos, Lakshmanan K Iyer, Kris Richardson, Ernst J Schaefer
• Journal: Atherosclerosis (Atherosclerosis) Vol. 241 Issue 2 Pg. 400-8 (Aug 2015) ISSN: 1879-1484 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 26074314 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Olive Oil
• Docosahexaenoic Acids
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid
• 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase
• PLA2G7 protein, human

Topics

• 1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase (blood)
• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Boston
• Docosahexaenoic Acids (administration & dosage, blood)
• Double-Blind Method
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (administration & dosage, blood)
• Female
• Gene Expression Profiling (methods)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Gene Regulatory Networks (drug effects)
• Humans
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear (drug effects, metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
• Olive Oil (administration & dosage)
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Signal Transduction (drug effects, genetics)
• Time Factors
• Up-Regulation