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- Hjorth, Erik, et al.
(författare)
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Omega-3 fatty acids enhance phagocytosis of Alzheimer's disease-related amyloid-β42 by human microglia and decrease inflammatory markers
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - : IOS Press. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 35:4, s. 697-713
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The use of supplements with omega-3 (ω3) fatty acids (FAs) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is widespread due to proposed beneficial effects on the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Many effects of ω3 FAs are believed to be caused by down-regulation and resolution of inflammation. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with inflammation mediated by microglia and astrocytes, and ω3 FAs have been proposed as potential treatments for AD. The focus of the present study is on the effects of DHA and EPA on microglial phagocytosis of the AD pathogen amyloid-β (Aβ), on secreted and cellular markers of immune activity, and on production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Human CHME3 microglial cells were exposed to DHA or EPA, with or without the presence of Aβ42. Phagocytosis of Aβ42 was analyzed by flow cytometry in conjunction with immunocytochemistry using antibodies to cellular proteins. Secreted proteins were analyzed by ELISA. Both DHA and EPA were found to stimulate microglial phagocytosis of Aβ42. Phagocytosis of Aβ42 was performed by microglia with a predominance of M2 markers. EPA increased the levels of BDNF in the culture medium. The levels of TNF-α were decreased by DHA. Both DHA and EPA decreased the pro-inflammatory M1 markers CD40 and CD86, and DHA had a stimulatory effect on the anti-inflammatory M2 marker CD206. DHA and EPA can be beneficial in AD by enhancing removal of Aβ42, increasing neurotrophin production, decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and by inducing a shift in phenotype away from pro-inflammatory M1 activation.
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| 2. |
- Zhu, Mingqin
(författare)
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Resolution of inflammation as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, clinically manifested by memory impairment, loss of ability in conducting daily activity and increased need for care, thus causing immense suffering for the afflicted and relatives, as well as a huge economic burden to the society. Despite the existence of symptom-relieving drugs, there is no drug that can stop the progression or cure the disease. Therefore, new disease-modifying drugs are called for. Epidemiological studies suggest that among persons with long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) there is a lower prevalence of AD, and there is extensive evidence for the presence of a chronic inflammation in AD, that may promote pathology and pathogenesis, presenting inflammation as a therapeutic target. Resolution of inflammation belongs to the last phase of the inflammatory response, where inflammation is down-regulated and return to homeostasis is promoted. Chronic inflammation can thus be a result of a failure in resolution mechanisms. The levels of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), mediators of resolution derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), are decreased in chronic inflammatory diseases including AD, opening a new field of therapeutic intervention for AD by stimulating resolution of inflammation. In Paper I, studies on a human microglial cell line showed that both the omega-3 (n-3) FAs docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), increased microglial phagocytosis of β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ42) peptide, and down-regulated the pro-inflammatory phenotype. In Paper II, we asked the question how Aβ42 affects the resolution of inflammation. We showed that Aβ42 is more suppressive on the resolution pathway in the human microglia compared to the inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), indicating that there is an impairment of resolution specific for this major molecular pathological hallmark of AD. Paper III describes lower levels of the SPMs maresin 1 (MaR1), protectin D1 (PD1) and resolvin (Rv) D5 in the entorhinal cortex in AD. Also, lipoxin A4 (LXA4), MaR1, RvD1 and protectin DX (PDX) exerted neuroprotective activity against staurosporine-induced apoptosis. MaR1 and RvD1 down-regulated Aβ42-induced pro-inflammatory activation in human microglia. Microglial phagocytosis of Aβ42 was increased by MaR1. Findings in Paper IV on the influence of apolipoprotein (Apo) E4 allele on the plasma SPM levels upon n-3 FA supplementation in AD patients, indicate that conversion of FAs to SPMs is not increased by supplementation with n-3 FAs, and showed that the proportion of patients with unchanged/improved cognition was higher in the n-3 FAtreated group compare to placebo, but only in ApoE4 non-carriers. In conclusion, these studies show that resolution of inflammation is impaired in AD, and support the idea that stimulating the resolution of inflammation is a potential therapeutic strategy in AD.
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