Effects of n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on dermatitis in NC/Nga mice

• Published in: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and essential fatty acids Vol. 66; no. 4; pp. 435 - 440
• Main Authors: Suzuki, R., Shimizu, T., Kudo, T., Ohtsuka, Y., Yamashiro, Y., Oshida, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: alpha-Linolenic Acid - administration & dosage; alpha-Linolenic Acid - analysis; alpha-Linolenic Acid - pharmacology; alpha-Linolenic Acid - therapeutic use; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatitis - blood; Dermatitis - drug therapy; Dermatitis - immunology; Dermatitis - pathology; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats - pharmacology; Dietary Fats - therapeutic use; Docosahexaenoic Acids - analysis; Docosahexaenoic Acids - blood; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ear - blood supply; Eicosanoic Acids - analysis; Eicosanoic Acids - blood; Erythrocyte Membrane - drug effects; Erythrocyte Membrane - metabolism; Female; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Regional Blood Flow - drug effects; Skin - blood supply; Skin - drug effects; Skin - metabolism; Skin - pathology; Skin, nail, hair, dermoskeleton; Skin disease; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Treatment; Mouse; Atopic dermatitis; Animal; Rodentia; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Unsaturated fatty acid; Lipids; n-3 fatty acid
• ISSN: 0952-3278; 1532-2823
• DOI: 10.1054/plef.2002.0370

The administration of n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is known to be effective against allergic diseases by suppressing the production of eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid. To investigate the mechanisms and efficacy of n -3 PUFA treatment in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), we administered four different formulas ofα -linolenic acid for 6 weeks in an AD model using NC/Nga mice. According to the doses of α -linolenic acid given, the levels of α -linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid in the red blood cell membranes increased while the levels of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid decreased. However, there was no significant difference among the four dose groups in clinical skin severity score, histopathological findings of skin lesions, or levels of total plasma IgE. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the production of leukotriene B4 and Leukotriene C4 from skin lesions after stimulation with A23187 among the groups, although the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was significantly reduced and skin blood flow in the ear was significantly higher in the group given the highest dose of α -linolenic acid. Our results suggest that the administration of α -linolenic acid can change the fatty acid composition, PGE2 production, and skin blood flow but may not prevent the development of dermatitis in NC/Nga mice.