Abstract
BackgroundPolyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play various roles in inflammation. However, the effect of PUFAs in the development of reflux esophagitis (RE) is unclear. This study is to investigate the potential effect of n-3/n-6 PUFAs on acute RE in rats along with the underlying protective mechanisms.MethodsForty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 in each group). RE model was established by pyloric clip and section ligation. Fish oil- and soybean oil-based fatty emulsion (n-3 and n-6 groups), or normal saline (control and sham operation groups) was injected intraperitoneally 2 h prior to surgery and 24 h postoperatively (2 mL/kg, respectively). The expressions of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, IL-6 and myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) in esophageal tissues were evaluated by Western blot and immunohistochemistry after 72 h. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression in the esophageal tissues were determined to assess the oxidative stress.ResultsThe mildest macroscopic/microscopic esophagitis was found in the n-3 group (P < 0.05). The expression of IL-1β, IL-8, IL-6 and MyD88 were increased in all RE groups, while the lowest and highest expression were found in n-3 and n-6 group, respectively (P < 0.05). The MDA levels were increased in all groups (P < 0.05), in an ascending trend from n-3, n-6 groups to control group. The lowest and highest SOD levels were found in the control and n-3 group, respectively (P < 0.05).Conclusionn-3 PUFAs may reduce acute RE in rats, which may be due to inhibition of the MyD88-NF-kB pathway and limit oxidative damage.
Highlights
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play various roles in inflammation
Multi-group comparison was done using one-way ANOVA and multiple comparisons among the groups were done by least-significant difference (LSD)
The morphological grading of the esophagus and histological grading hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained esophageal sections showed that esophageal damage and inflammation were markedly decreased in the n-3 PUFA group (P < 0.05), while the proportion of grade III damage in n-6 PUFAs group was significantly higher than other reflux esophagitis (RE) model groups (7/8, 87.5 %), which suggested that n-3 PUFA reduced inflammation and reflux-related damage, while n-6 PUFA increased inflammation
Summary
The effect of PUFAs in the development of reflux esophagitis (RE) is unclear. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic disease involving mucosal damage and epithelial metaplasia, which is caused by gastric and duodenal contents entering the esophagus. Studies have demonstrated that inflammatory factors, such as interlukin-6 (IL-6), interlukin-8 (IL-8), and interlukin-1β (IL-1β) are elevated in patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), which has no macroscopic esophageal mucosal damage [4, 5].
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