Docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide mitigates IgE-mediated allergic reactions by inhibiting mast cell degranulation and regulating allergy-related immune cells

Kosuke Nishi,Yoshiki Kanayama,In-Hae Kim,Takuya Sugahara,Hisashi Nishiwaki,Akihiro Nakata

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-52317-z

Kosuke Nishi, Yoshiki Kanayama + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-52317-z

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Journal: Scientific Reports	Publication Date: Nov 7, 2019
Citations: 17	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Ehime University

Abstract

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid mainly found in fish oil. Although several studies have suggested that it can alleviate allergy symptoms, its mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we found that docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide (DHEA), a metabolite of DHA produced in the human body, exerts the anti-allergic activity in vitro and in vivo. DHEA suppressed degranulation of rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells and bone marrow-derived mast cells in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. This occurred due to a decrease in Ca2+ influx, which is critical for mast cell degranulation. DHEA also suppressed IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction in mice. In addition, DHEA was demonstrated to lessen an allergic symptom in a mouse model of pollinosis and to alter the production of IgE and cytokines secreted by splenocytes collected from the pollinosis mice. Taken together, this study indicates that DHEA is a promising anti-allergic agent as it inhibits mast cell degranulation and modulates other immune cells.

Highlights

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid mainly found in fish oil
These food ingredients could be a way to decrease the severity of some allergic symptoms, such as those related to allergic rhinitis
Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA ((4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z)-docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenoic acid, Fig. 1) is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid mainly found in fish oil, and several studies have suggested that it may be important in the reduction of allergies[6,7] and have suggested possible mechanisms of action[8,9]; the mechanism underlying the anti-allergy effect of DHA still remains to be completely elucidated

Summary

Introduction

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid mainly found in fish oil. We evaluated whether DHEA suppresses mast cell degranulation by conducting in vitro cell-based assays and in vivo mouse models of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions.

Results

Conclusion