Polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammation

Abstract

Inflammation is a protective process for life that aims to restore body homeostasis by targeting the injury and by inducing repair mechanisms. This process can also become excessive and lead to chronic inflammation and organ fibrosis. Polyunsaturated fatty acids play a key role in inflammatory processes and their resolution. Indeed, numerous lipid mediators derived from n-3 or n-6 PUFA such as eicosanoids, endocannabinoids, or proresolving lipids are able to target transcription factors to modulate gene expression. One other important action mechanism is by modification of cell membrane composition. The purpose of the present review is to describe the potential mechanisms by which PUFA influence inflammatory processes. To illustrate this purpose, we focused on the interactions between PUFA and intestinal inflammation as an integrative example.

Keywords: Colitis; Crohn's disease; G-protein-mediated signaling; NF-kB | AP-1; fatty acids; genetic models.