Effects of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Chemokine Expression in Human Conjunctival Fibroblasts

ABSTRACT

Purpose

We assessed the production of chemokines by human conjunctival fibroblasts in response to inflammation and the effects of omega (ω)-3 fatty acids on chemokine expression.

Methods

Primary cultures of human conjunctival fibroblasts were incubated with interleukin-4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). The expression of eotaxin-1 and RANTES in response to pretreatment with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was investigated. Moreover, western blotting was used to evaluate the effects of DHA on the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6).

Results

The expression of eotaxin-1 mRNA was significantly suppressed by pretreatment with DHA with IL-4 and TNF-α costimulation. RANTES expression was similarly suppressed, but the difference was not significant. The secretion of eotaxin-1 and RANTES was significantly lower in DHA-pretreated cells than in vehicle-treated cells. Western blotting for NF-κB and STAT6 showed that these proteins were downregulated in the DHA pretreatment group compared with those in the vehicle control group.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggested that DHA could have applications in the management of allergic inflammation.

KEYWORDS:

• Human conjunctival fibroblast
• docosahexaenoic acid
• eotaxin-1
• RANTES
• NF-κB
• STAT6

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

No sponsor or funding organization played role in designing or conducting this research.