Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is an emerging therapeutic target in a number of diseases that have inflammation as a common underlying cause. sEH limits tissue levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) epoxides derived from omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) by converting these antiinflammatory mediators into their less active diols. Here, we explored the metabolic effects of a sEH inhibitor (t-TUCB) in fat-1 mice with transgenic expression of an omega-3 desaturase capable of enriching tissues with endogenous omega-3 PUFA. These mice exhibited increased CYP1A1, CYP2E1, and CYP2U1 expression and abundant levels of the omega-3-derived epoxides 17,18-epoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (17,18-EEQ) and 19,20-epoxydocosapentaenoic (19,20-EDP) in insulin-sensitive tissues, especially liver, as determined by LC-ESI-MS/MS. In obese fat-1 mice, t-TUCB raised hepatic 17,18-EEQ and 19,20-EDP levels and reinforced the omega-3-dependent reduction observed in tissue inflammation and lipid peroxidation. t-TUCB also produced a more intense antisteatotic action in obese fat-1 mice, as revealed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Notably, t-TUCB skewed macrophage polarization toward an antiinflammatory M2 phenotype and expanded the interscapular brown adipose tissue volume. Moreover, t-TUCB restored hepatic levels of Atg12-Atg5 and LC3-II conjugates and reduced p62 expression, indicating up-regulation of hepatic autophagy. t-TUCB consistently reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress demonstrated by the attenuation of IRE-1α and eIF2α phosphorylation. These actions were recapitulated in vitro in palmitate-primed hepatocytes and adipocytes incubated with 19,20-EDP or 17,18-EEQ. Relatively similar but less pronounced actions were observed with the omega-6 epoxide, 14,15-EET, and nonoxidized DHA. Together, these findings identify omega-3 epoxides as important regulators of inflammation and autophagy in insulin-sensitive tissues and postulate sEH as a druggable target in metabolic diseases.
Keywords: autophagy; inflammation; obesity; omega-3–derived epoxides; soluble epoxide hydrolase.