Antiadhesion effects of docosahexaenoic acid on normal human peritoneal and adhesion fibroblasts

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) reduces adhesion marker mRNA levels in normal peritoneal and adhesion fibroblasts.

Design: Prospective experimental study.

Setting: University Medical Center.

Patient(s): Three patients undergoing laparotomy with excision of adhesions and normal peritoneum.

Intervention(s): DHA treatment (100 muM) of cell cultures for 24 hours.

Main outcome measure(s): Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) quantification of relative changes (mRNA copies/mug mRNA) in mRNA levels of type I collagen, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1).

Result(s): The DHA treatment significantly reduced type I collagen and VEGF, but not TGF-beta1 mRNA levels in normal peritoneal fibroblasts compared to normal controls. The DHA treatment of adhesion fibroblasts reduced type I collagen mRNAs to those of normal peritoneal fibroblasts, decreasing mRNAs by 35% compared to untreated adhesion fibroblasts. The VEGF mRNA levels were 50% lower in DHA-treated adhesion fibroblasts versus untreated adhesion fibroblasts. Docasahexaenoic acid reduced TGF- beta1 mRNA to normal levels in treated adhesion fibroblasts compared to untreated normal peritoneal fibroblasts.

Conclusion(s): Docasahexaenoic acid substantially reduces levels of adhesion-related markers in normal peritoneal and adhesion fibroblasts. This study provides the molecular basis for an easily administered and potentially, highly efficacious, antiadhesion adjuvant.