Increased tissue levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids prevents pathological preterm birth

Sci Rep. 2013 Nov 1:3:3113. doi: 10.1038/srep03113.

Abstract

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have anti-inflammatory effects. Preterm birth is an important problem in modern obstetrics and one of the main causes is an inflammation. We here showed that abundance of omega-3 fatty acids reduced the incidence of preterm birth induced by LPS with fat-1 mice, capable of converting omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. We also indicated that the gene expression of IL-6 and IL-1β in uteruses and the number of cervical infiltrating macrophages were reduced in fat-1 mice. The analyses of lipid metabolomics showed the high level of 18-hydroxyeicosapentaenoate in fat-1 mice, which was derived from EPA and was metabolized to anti-inflammatory product named resolvin E3 (RvE3). We finally showed that the administration of RvE3 to LPS-exposed pregnant wild type mice lowered the incidence of preterm birth. Our data suggest that RvE3 could be a potential new therapeutic for the prevention of preterm birth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Incidence
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Mice
  • Models, Animal
  • Myometrium / metabolism
  • Myometrium / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Premature Birth / epidemiology
  • Premature Birth / etiology
  • Premature Birth / metabolism*
  • Premature Birth / prevention & control*

Substances

  • 17,18-dihydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid
  • Cytokines
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Inflammation Mediators