Abstract
Purpose of ReviewOsteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are characterized by abnormal lipid metabolism manifested as altered fatty acid (FA) profiles of synovial fluid and tissues and in the way dietary FA supplements can influence the symptoms of especially RA. In addition to classic eicosanoids, the potential roles of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA)-derived specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPM) have become the focus of intensive research. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge of the roles of FA and oxylipins in the degradation or protection of synovial joints.Recent FindingsThere exists discordance between the large body of literature from cell culture and animal experiments on the adverse and beneficial effects of individual FA and the lack of effective treatments for joint destruction in OA and RA patients. Saturated 16:0 and 18:0 induce mostly deleterious effects, while long-chain n-3 PUFA, especially 20:5n-3, have positive influence on joint health. The situation can be more complex for n-6 PUFA, such as 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6, and its derivative prostaglandin E2, with a combination of potentially adverse and beneficial effects. SPM analogs have future potential as analgesics for arthritic pain.SummaryAlterations in FA profiles and their potential implications in SPM production may affect joint lubrication, synovial inflammation, pannus formation, as well as cartilage and bone degradation and contribute to the pathogeneses of inflammatory joint diseases. Further research directions include high-quality randomized controlled trials on dietary FA supplements and investigations on the significance of lipid composition of microvesicle membrane and cargo in joint diseases.
Highlights
This article is part of the Topical Collection on Rheumatoid ArthritisJoint Diseases and Fatty AcidsOsteoarthritis (OA) and autoimmune-driven rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are chronic joint diseases characterized with inflammation, cartilage destruction, joint pain, and functional limitations eventually leading to disability [1, 2]
Obesity is a known risk factor for OA, which is featured with a lower inflammatory load (cells and cytokines in synovial fluid (SF)) compared to RA, and the enzymatic pathways involved in inflammation and the resolution of inflammation may be less activated in OA [3]
& There exists a striking discordance between the large body of literature on the adverse and beneficial effects of individual fatty acid (FA) on joint health and the lack of effective treatments for joint destruction in OA and RA. & Dietary interventions can provide some alleviation of symptoms and pain in RA, but high-quality randomized controlled trials are necessary to investigate the effects of dietary FA supplements on arthropathies. & Existing studies only concentrate on a few FA, and there is a lack of research on especially 20–24C monounsaturated FA (MUFA)
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) and autoimmune-driven rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are chronic joint diseases characterized with inflammation, cartilage destruction, joint pain, and functional limitations eventually leading to disability [1, 2]. Other hallmarks include the development of osteophytes in OA and the production of autoantibodies, pannus formation, and bone erosion in RA. Obesity is a known risk factor for OA, which is featured with a lower inflammatory load (cells and cytokines in synovial fluid (SF)) compared to RA, and the enzymatic pathways involved in inflammation and the resolution of inflammation may be less activated in OA [3].
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