The Omega-3 Fatty Acid Docosahexaenoic Acid Modulates Inflammatory Mediator Release in Human Alveolar Cells Exposed to Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of ARDS Patients

Figure 5

Effects of ω-3/ω-6 PUFA ratios on PGE₂ and PGE₃ synthesis and release. (a) COX-2 relative protein content in A549 cells, stimulated with BALF and treated with 50 μM 1 : 2 and 1 : 7 DHA/AA PUFA ratios. Data are expressed as “a.u.” (arbitrary units) of the densitometric values, normalized on the corresponding β-actin. The value of unstimulated cells was arbitrarily set as 100. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation of 6 independent determinations (). The image is representative of all the WB experiments. (b) PGE₂ (white bars) and PGE₃ (black bars) content in culture media of A549 cells, stimulated with BALFs and treated with 50 μM 1 : 2 or 1 : 7 DHA/AA ratio. Data are presented as picograms (pg) of the indicated PG per mL. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation of 12 independent determinations (). PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid; PG, prostaglandin; COX, cycloxygenase; BALF, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; AA, arachidonic acid; WB, western blot. BALF versus unstimulated cells and 1 : 2 DHA/AA. 1 : 7 DHA/AA versus all. 1 : 2 DHA/AA versus unstimulated cells. 1 : 2 DHA/AA versus all.

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