Increased tissue arachidonic acid and reduced linoleic acid in a mouse model of cystic fibrosis are reversed by supplemental glycerophospholipids enriched in docosahexaenoic acid

J Nutr. 2009 Dec;139(12):2358-64. doi: 10.3945/jn.109.110999. Epub 2009 Oct 14.

Abstract

An imbalance in (n-6)/(n-3) PUFA has been reported in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Glycerophospholipids enriched in docosahexaenoic acid (GPL-DHA) have been shown to regulate the (n-6)/(n-3) fatty acid ratio in the elderly. Here, we tested the effect of GPL-DHA supplementation on PUFA status in F508del homozygous CF mice. GPL-DHA liposomes were administrated by gavage (60 mg DHA/kg daily, i.e. at maximum 1.4 mg DHA/d) to 1.5-mo-old CF mice (CF+DHA) and their corresponding wild-type (WT) homozygous littermates (WT+DHA) for 6 wk. The PUFA status of different tissues was determined by GC and compared with control groups (CF and WT). There was an alteration in the (n-6) PUFA pathway in several CF-target organs in CF compared with WT mice, as evidenced by a higher level of arachidonic acid (AA) in membrane phospholipids or whole tissue (21 and 39% in duodenum-jejunum, 32 and 38% in ileum, and 19 and 43% in pancreas). Elevated AA levels were associated with lower linoleic acid (LA) and higher dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid levels. No DHA deficiency was observed. GPL-DHA treatment resulted in different PUFA composition changes depending on the tissue (increase in LA, decrease in elevated AA, DHA increase, increase in (n-6)/(n-3) fatty acid ratio). However, the DHA/AA ratio consistently increased in all tissues in CF+DHA and WT+DHA mice. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of an original oral DHA formulation in counter-balancing the abnormal (n-6) fatty acid metabolism in organs of CF mice when administrated at a low dose and highlights the potential of the use of GPL-DHA as nutritherapy for CF patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acid / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cystic Fibrosis / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis / metabolism*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / metabolism
  • Glycerophospholipids / chemistry
  • Glycerophospholipids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestines / drug effects
  • Linoleic Acid / metabolism*
  • Lipids / chemistry
  • Lipids / isolation & purification
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Pancreas / drug effects
  • Pancreas / metabolism
  • Phospholipids / metabolism
  • Sequence Deletion

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6
  • Glycerophospholipids
  • Lipids
  • Phospholipids
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Arachidonic Acid
  • Linoleic Acid