Per os administered refined olive oil and marine PUFA-rich oils reach the cornea: possible role on oxidative stress through caveolin-1 modulation

Mélody Dutot,Jean-Michel Warnet,Chantal Martin,Alain Grynberg,Delphine Rousseau,Patrice Rat,Hong Liang

doi:10.1186/1743-7075-6-48

Abstract

BackgroundOlive oil and fish oils are known to possess beneficial properties for human health. We investigated whether different oils and fatty acids alone were able to decrease oxidative stress induced on corneal cells.MethodsIn our in vivo study, rats were fed with marine oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) or refined olive oil during 28 days. At the end of the protocol, corneas were analysed for their fatty acids composition to study the incorporation of fatty acids in cell membranes. In our in vitro study, a human corneal cell line was incubated with marine oils or refined olive oil and subjected to oxidative stress (tBHP 50 μM, 1 hour). Effects on reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondria and caveolin-1 expression were studied using microcytofluorometry, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.ResultsOur results indicate that dietary oils changed the fatty acids composition of corneal cell membranes. According to our results, PUFA-rich oils and refined olive oil (free of antioxidants) blocked reactive oxygen species production. Oleic acid, the major fatty acid of olive oil, also decreased oxidative stress. Moreover, oleic acid modified caveolin-1 expression. Antioxidant properties of oleic acid could be due to disruption of membrane microdomains such as caveolae.ConclusionOleic acid, a potential potent modulator of oxidative stress, could be added to PUFA-rich oils to prevent oxidative stress-linked corneal pathology.

Highlights

Olive oil and fish oils are known to possess beneficial properties for human health
Very little is known about the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA); and yet, the ocular surface epithelial cell layers, consisting of the conjunctiva and cornea, are the initial areas protecting the eye from external agents
Our hypothesis is that exogenous fatty acids can incorporate into cell membranes, remodel lipid raft domains and influence the expression of proteins contained in these domains such as caveolin-1, leading to a possible antioxidant effect

Summary

Introduction

Olive oil and fish oils are known to possess beneficial properties for human health. We investigated whether different oils and fatty acids alone were able to decrease oxidative stress induced on corneal cells. Caveolae are microdomains rich in free cholesterol and sphingolipids, and are involved in transcytosis, ptocytosis, cell signalling and cholesterol regulation [8,9,10]. These functions are believed to require caveolin-1, the major protein component of caveolae. Our hypothesis is that exogenous fatty acids can incorporate into cell membranes, remodel lipid raft domains and influence the expression of proteins contained in these domains such as caveolin-1, leading to a possible antioxidant effect

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