Dietary omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 unsaturated fatty acids and growth factor and cytokine gene expression in unstimulated and stimulated monocytes. A randomized volunteer study.

Abstract

Dietary omega-3 fatty acids retard coronary atherosclerosis. Previously, we demonstrated that dietary omega-3 fatty acids reduce platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A and PDGF-B mRNA levels in unstimulated, human mononuclear cells (MNCs). In a randomized, investigator-blinded intervention trial, we have now compared the effect of ingestion of 7 g/d omega-3, omega-6, or omega-9 fatty acids for 4 weeks versus no dietary intervention on PDGF-A, PDGF-B, heparin-bound epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and interleukin-10 gene expression in unstimulated MNCs and in monocytes that were adherence-activated ex vivo in a total of 28 volunteers. In unstimulated MNCs, mRNA steady-state levels of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, and MCP-1 were reduced by 25+/-10%, 31+/-13%, and 40+/-14%, respectively, after omega-3 fatty acid ingestion, as assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (all P<0.05). In monocytes that were adherence-activated ex vivo for 4 and 20 hours, mRNA steady-state levels of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, and MCP-1 were reduced by 25+/-13%, 20+/-15%, and 30+/-8%, respectively (all P<0.05). Interleukin-10 and HB-EGF mRNA steady-state levels were not influenced by omega-3 fatty acid ingestion. Expression of all respective mRNAs in control volunteers or in those ingesting omega-6 or omega-9 fatty acids were not altered. We conclude that human gene expression for PDGF-A, PDGF-B, and MCP-1, factors thought relevant to atherosclerosis, is constitutive, is constant, and can be reduced only by dietary omega-3 fatty acids in unstimulated and adherence-activated monocytes.