Dietary long-chain omega-3 fatty acids do not diminish eosinophilic pulmonary inflammation in mice

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2014 Mar;50(3):626-36. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2013-0136OC.

Abstract

Although the effects of fish oil supplements on airway inflammation in asthma have been studied with varying results, the independent effects of the fish oil components, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), administered separately, are untested. Here, we investigated airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness using a mouse ovalbumin exposure model of asthma assessing the effects of consuming EPA (1.5% wt/wt), DHA (1.5% wt/wt), EPA plus DHA (0.75% each), or a control diet with no added omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Consuming these diets for 6 weeks resulted in erythrocyte membrane EPA contents (molar %) of 9.0 (± 0.6), 3.2 (± 0.2), 6.8 (± 0.5), and 0.01 (± 0.0)%; DHA contents were 6.8 (± 0.1), 15.6 (± 0.5), 12.3 (± 0.3), and 3.8 (± 0.2)%, respectively. The DHA group had the highest bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid eosinophil and IL-6 levels (P < 0.05). Similar trends were seen for macrophages, IL-4, and IL-13, whereas TNF-α was lower in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid groups than the control (P < 0.05). The DHA group also had the highest airway resistance, which differed significantly from the EPA plus DHA group (P < 0.05), which had the lowest. Oxylipins were measured in plasma and BAL fluid, with DHA and EPA suppressing arachidonic acid-derived oxylipin production. DHA-derived oxylipins from the cytochrome P450 and 15-lipoxygenase pathways correlated significantly with BAL eosinophil levels. The proinflammatory effects of DHA suggest that the adverse effects of individual fatty acid formulations should be thoroughly considered before any use as therapeutic agents in asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Airway Resistance / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / toxicity
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / toxicity
  • Asthma / blood
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Asthma / prevention & control*
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / metabolism
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / physiopathology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / prevention & control
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dietary Supplements* / toxicity
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / toxicity
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / toxicity
  • Eosinophils / drug effects
  • Eosinophils / immunology
  • Eosinophils / metabolism
  • Female
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / physiopathology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oxylipins / metabolism
  • Pneumonia / blood
  • Pneumonia / immunology
  • Pneumonia / physiopathology
  • Pneumonia / prevention & control*
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / blood
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / immunology
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / prevention & control*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Oxylipins
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid