Polyenoic Fatty Acid Ratios Alter Fibroblast Collagen Production Via PGE2 and PGE Receptor Subtype Response

Oil from hake (Merluccius merluccius): Characterization, antioxidant activity, wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects

The aim of this work was to evaluate some biological properties of hake head oil (HHO) as well its lipid composition. The fatty acid profiles showed a dominance of unsaturated fatty acids overtaking 55% of the total fatty acids. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles exhibited a dominance of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) (3.96%) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) (25.39%). The antioxidant activity was determined through two different assays: DPPH scavenging activity and β-carotene bleaching by linoleic acid assay. Eighteen mice were excised on their back and divided into 3 groups, treated with sterile saline, commercial healing cream and HHO, respectively. The wound closure rate, the hydroxyproline contents and the histopathology evolution in skin tissue were elaborated. Also, the anti-inflammatory activity was studied by carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema. Mice were divided into 3 groups treated respectively with sterile saline, anti inflammatory drug reference and HHO. The anti-inflammatory evaluation of HHO in mice exhibited an important inhibition of carrageenan-induced hind paws edema, as confirmed by the histological analysis, the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. HHO displayed a significant wound healing effect probably due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of its EPA and DHA contents. The overall results proved that HHO might be favorable drugs who exert a great therapeutic potential wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects in animal model.

Topical Fish Oil Application Coupling with Therapeutic Ultrasound Improves Tendon Healing

Fish oil has been shown to promote collagen synthesis, and hence, connective tissue healing. Therapeutic ultrasound is commonly used to treat soft tissue injuries. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of topical fish oil on the management of Achilles tendon rupture, comparing normal therapeutic ultrasound with a combination of ultrasound and fish oil. Eighty-five Sprague-Dawley rats underwent surgical hemitenotomy of the right medial Achilles tendon. The rats received daily treatment of either topical placebo ointment (control group [CON]), topical fish oil (FO), therapeutic ultrasound (US) or ultrasound with fish oil as the coupling medium (FU). The treatment started on post-surgical day 2 over a 2-wk or 4-wk period. On days 15 and 29, the rats were sacrificed and their Achilles tendons were tested for structural stiffness, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and energy absorption capacity. At 2 wk, only US showed higher normalized UTS compared with CON (p < 0.05). At 4 wk, both US and FU demonstrated better UTS (p < 0.05), while both FO and FU had improved in structural stiffness (p < 0.05). Four wk of treatment with ultrasound using fish oil as coupling medium showed improvement in both structural stiffness and UTS (p < 0.05).

Wrinkle reduction in post-menopausal women consuming a novel oral supplement: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study

Objective

The maintenance of youthful skin appearance is strongly desired by a large proportion of the world's population. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the effect on skin wrinkling, of a combination of ingredients reported to influence key factors involved in skin ageing, namely inflammation, collagen synthesis and oxidative/UV stress. A supplemented drink was developed containing soy isoflavones, lycopene, vitamin C and vitamin E and given to post-menopausal women with a capsule containing fish oil.

Method

We have performed a double-blind randomized controlled human clinical study to assess whether this cocktail of dietary ingredients can significantly improve the appearance of facial wrinkles.

Results

We have shown that this unique combination of micronutrients can significantly reduce the depth of facial wrinkles and that this improvement is associated with increased deposition of new collagen fibres in the dermis.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that consumption of a mixture of soy isoflavones, lycopene, vitamin C, vitamin E and fish oil is able to induce a clinically measureable improvement in the depth of facial wrinkles following long-term use. We have also shown, for the first time with an oral product, that the improvement is associated with increased deposition of new collagen fibres in the dermis.

Résumé

Oral eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation as possible therapy for endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) compared with n-6 linoleic acid (LA) in an endometriosis rat model. We focused on the relationship between lipid metabolism and inflammatory reactions in endometriosis based on the hypothesis that a lipid intake imbalance is one of the factors responsible for the recent increase of endometriosis.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized experimental study.

SETTING

Animal surgery laboratory in a university hospital.

ANIMAL(S)

Sprague-Dawley rats (female, 6 weeks old).

INTERVENTION(S)

Rats were fed a diet with EPA (n = 9) or with LA (n = 9) for 2 weeks. Two weeks after feeding, the uterus was autotransplanted to the peritoneum to construct an endometriosis model. Feeding was continued for a total of 6 weeks. Two and 4 weeks after autotransplantation, three rats of each group were killed and evaluated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Endometriotic lesions were morphologically evaluated and their fatty acid composition was examined. Gene expression in these tissues was evaluated by cDNA microarray analysis and quantative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULT(S)

In the EPA group, the n-3:n-6 ratio in each tissue significantly increased and the thickening of the interstitium, an active site for inflammation in endometriosis, was significantly suppressed (0.30 +/- 0.09 mm [EPA group] vs. 0.77 +/- 0.23 mm [LA group]). The mRNA of metalloproteinases, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-1r, prostaglandin E synthase (Ptges), and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB were reduced in the EPA group.

CONCLUSION(S)

EPA supplementation might be a valid strategy for the treatment of endometriosis.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin receptors EP2 and FP expression in the bovine intercaruncular uterine wall around term

During parturition, uterine-derived prostaglandins (PG) play an outstanding role regarding the functional elimination of the corpus luteum and the promotion of uterine contraction. The rate-limiting enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), highly regulated in a cell-type and localization specific manner throughout pregnancy, is involved in uterine prostanoid production. Prostaglandins exert their effects via G-protein-coupled receptors. Distribution and cellular localization of these receptors are decisive factors for prostaglandin-mediated actions. Since both COX-2 and PG receptors have only been assessed during pregnancy in the cow, these parameters were localized immunohistochemically near term to evaluate their specific role at parturition. Thus, during two periods, segments of the intercaruncular uterine wall were collected from cows at slaughter being eight and nine months pregnant, from cattle during caesarean section, and after spontaneous calving. Results reveal that COX-2 was mainly localized in the cytoplasm of surface epithelial cells with a high expression in animals with induced parturition. The enzyme could also be found in lower concentrations within the glandular epithelium without any effect of gestational time or labour. In contrast to relaxant prostaglandin E receptor type 2 (EP2), not showing any change in all tissue layers observed, contractile prostaglandin F(2alpha) receptor (FP) was modulated during the peripartal period revealing a peak expression in animals with induced parturition. FP was localized in surface and glandular epithelial cells as well as in endometrial stroma and myometrial smooth muscle cells. Our study indicates that labour and induction of parturition may have an effect on amounts of immunohistochemically detectable COX-2 and FP. EP2 remains rather unchanged during the peripartal period. COX-2 and FP thus contribute via changes in amount and distribution to mechanisms associated with parturition.

A rapid transient increase in hyaluronan synthase-2 mRNA initiates secretion of hyaluronan by corneal keratocytes in response to transforming growth factor beta

Keratocytes of the corneal stroma produce transparent extracellular matrix devoid of hyaluronan (HA); however, in corneal pathologies and wounds, HA is abundant. We previously showed primary keratocytes cultured under serum-free conditions to secrete matrix similar to that of normal stroma, but serum and transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) induced secretion of fibrotic matrix components, including HA. This study found HA secretion by primary bovine keratocytes to increase rapidly in response to TGFbeta, reaching a maximum in 12 h and then decreasing to <5% of the maximum by 48 h. Cell-free biosynthesis of HA by cell extracts also exhibited a transient peak at 12 h after TGFbeta treatment. mRNA for hyaluronan synthase enzymes HAS1 and HAS2 increased >10- and >50-fold, respectively, in 4-6 h, decreasing to near original levels after 24-48 h. Small interfering RNA against HAS2 inhibited the transient increase of HAS2 mRNA and completely blocked HA induction, but small interfering RNA to HAS1 had no effect on HA secretion. HAS2 mRNA was induced by a variety of mitogens, and TGFbeta acted synergistically to induce HAS2 by as much as 150-fold. In addition to HA synthesis, treatment with TGFbeta induced degradation of fluorescein-HA added to culture medium. These results show HA secretion by keratocytes to be initiated by a rapid transient increase in the HAS2 mRNA pool. The very rapid induction of HA expression in keratocytes suggests a functional role of this molecule in the fibrotic response of keratocytes to wound healing.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase links NF-kappaB to PGE2 in polyunsaturated fatty acid altered fibroblast in-vitro wound healing

BACKGROUND

This study investigated mechanisms of altered fibroblast collagen production induced by polyunsaturated fatty acids. 3T3-Swiss fibroblasts were grown in medium containing either eicosapentaenoic or arachidonic acid. The effects of nuclear factor-kappaB activation by lipopolysaccharide on inducible nitric oxide synthase, nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, collagen production, and in-vitro wound healing were studied.

RESULTS

Eicosapentaenoic acid treated cells produced less prostaglandin E2 but had increased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, nitric oxide production, collagen formation, and recoverage area during in-vitro wound healing than cells treated with arachidonic acid. Activation of nuclear factor-kappaB with lipopolysaccharide increased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, collagen, and the in-vitro wound recoverage area. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide, but the amount of nitric oxide was greater in eicosapentaenoic acid treated cells. NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester plus lipopolysaccharide treatment increased collagen production and cellular recoverage area while treatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester alone decreased it in wounded fibroblasts.

CONCLUSION

The activation of the NF-kappaB pathway and PGE2 can be linked by the cross-talk of iNOS and NO in the PUFA altered fibroblast collagen production and wound healing. Additional studies are needed to determine how polyunsaturated fatty acids can be used as adjuvants in combination with other treatments (i.e, drugs) to design therapies to either enhance healthy collagen production or inhibit production and reduce fibrosis.