Effects of Omega-3-Rich Harp Seal Oil on the Production of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages

Omega-3, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, is an essential fatty acid necessary for human health, and it protects against cardiovascular disease, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In the present study, we investigated the effects of omega-3-rich harp seal oil (HSO) on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-(IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-12/IL-23 (p40) in peritoneal macrophages of mice. The culture supernatants of murine macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), HSO, or HSO+LPS were harvested to assay IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12/IL-23 (p40) cytokines and NO. TNF-α, IL-1 β, and IL-12/IL-23 (p40) levels, except IL-6, were lower in the culture supernatants of mouse peritoneal macrophages exposed to LPS plus HSO than those of the groups exposed to LPS alone. These observations demonstrate that omega-3-rich harp seal oil downregulates the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-12/IL-23 (p40). These results suggest that HSO could be potentially used as a preventive agent or as an adjunct in anti-inflammatory therapy, if more research results were accumulated.

In conclusion, we observed changes in the levels of expression of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12/23A (p40), and NO using endotoxic LPS stimulation to observe the effects of HSO, which is known to be abundant in ω-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids. Administration of LPS to murine peritoneal macrophages led to a significant increase in TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12/23A (p40), and NO, and co-administration of HSO with LPS significantly reduced the formation of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-12/IL-23 (p40) with an increase in incubation time. The formation of NO was also reduced. Therefore, administration of ω-3-abundant HSO seemingly down-regulates the formation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This is expected to be useful in the reduction of inflammation as well as in the management of immune diseases. We think that the molecular mechanism of the anti-inflammatory function of HSO needs to be investigated further. Also, additional experiments on the changes in IL-6 and NO levels by treatment with HSO alone may be required.

Retrieved from: Effects of Omega-3-Rich Harp Seal Oil on the Production of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages (nih.gov)

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