Anti-inflammatory Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Cytokine-Induced Adhesion Molecule Expression in Human Retinal Vascular Endothelial Cells

PURPOSE: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA(22:6n3)), the principal n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the retina, has been shown to have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect in numerous in vivo and in vitro studies. Despite the importance of vascular inflammation in diabetic retinopathy, the anti-inflammatory role of DHA(22:6n3) in cytokine-stimulated human retinal vascular endothelial cells (hRVECs) has not been addressed. METHODS: Cytokine-induced expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) was assessed by Western blot. The effect of DHA(22:6n3) on cytokine-induced nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB signaling was analyzed by Western blot analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). RESULTS: Stimulation of hRVECs with VEGF(165), TNFalpha, or IL-1beta for 6 to 24 hours caused significant induction of intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 expression. Pretreatment of the cells with 100 microM of BSA-bound DHA(22:6n3) for 24 hours remarkably inhibited cytokine-induced CAM expression. IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and VEGF(165) induced nuclear translocation and binding of p65 and p50 NF-kappaB isoforms to the VCAM-1 promoter. DHA(22:6n3) pretreatment inhibited cytokine-induced NF-kappaB binding by 25% to 40%. Moreover, DHA(22:6n3) diminished IL-1beta induced phosphorylation of the inhibitor of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB (I-kappaBalpha), thus preventing its degradation. CONCLUSIONS: IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and VEGF(165) induced CAM expression in hRVECs through activation of the NF-kappaB pathway. DHA(22:6n3) inhibited cytokine induced CAM expression through suppression of NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and upstream I-kappaBalpha phosphorylation and degradation. DHA(22:6n3) could be an important anti-inflammatory agent in the face of increased cytokine production and CAM expression in the diabetic retina.