Abstract
The effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on cyclooxygenase expression induced by interleukin (IL)-1beta and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was investigated in order to clarify the cellular mechanism of cardiovascular protective effects. DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid slightly enhanced IL-1beta-induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, but not COX-1, expression, whereas arachidonic acid had no effect. DHA also slightly enhanced PMA-induced COX-2 expression. DHA stimulated both rapid and prolonged activation of p44/42, but not p38, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) induced by IL-1beta and PMA. These results suggest that DHA enhances the COX-2 expression by selectively facilitating p44/42 MAPK activation in VSMCs.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Aorta
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Cells, Cultured
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Cyclooxygenase 2 / biosynthesis*
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Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Enzyme Activation / drug effects
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Interleukin-1
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism*
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism*
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Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects*
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Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism
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Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / drug effects*
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Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism
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Rats
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Rats, Inbred WKY
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Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / analogs & derivatives
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Time Factors
Substances
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Interleukin-1
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Docosahexaenoic Acids
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phorbolol myristate acetate
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Cyclooxygenase 2
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
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Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate