Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Ca2+ Signaling Pathways in Cerulein-Treated Pancreatic Acinar Cells, Determined by RNA-Sequencing Analysis

Nutrients. 2019 Jun 26;11(7):1445. doi: 10.3390/nu11071445.

Abstract

Intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis is commonly disrupted in acute pancreatitis. Sustained Ca2+ release from internal stores in pancreatic acinar cells (PACs), mediated by inositol triphosphate receptor (IP3R) and the ryanodine receptor (RyR), plays a key role in the initiation and propagation of acute pancreatitis. Pancreatitis induced by cerulein, an analogue of cholecystokinin, causes premature activation of digestive enzymes and enhanced accumulation of cytokines and Ca2+ in the pancreas and, as such, it is a good model of acute pancreatitis. High concentrations of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) inhibit inflammatory signaling pathways and cytokine expression in PACs treated with cerulein. In the present study, we determined the effect of DHA on key regulators of Ca2+ signaling in cerulein-treated pancreatic acinar AR42 J cells. The results of RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis showed that cerulein up-regulates the expression of IP3R1 and RyR2 genes, and that pretreatment with DHA blocks these effects. The results of real-time PCR confirmed that DHA inhibits cerulein-induced IP3R1 and RyR2 gene expression, and demonstrated that DHA pre-treatment decreases the expression of the Relb gene, which encodes a component of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) transcriptional activator complex, and the c-fos gene, which encodes a component of activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional activator complex. Taken together, DHA inhibits mRNA expression of IP3R1, RyR2, Relb, and c-fos, which is related to Ca2+ network in cerulein-stimulated PACs.

Keywords: calcium; cerulein; docosahexaenoic acid; pancreatic acinar cells.

MeSH terms

  • Acinar Cells / drug effects*
  • Acinar Cells / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Calcium Signaling / drug effects*
  • Calcium Signaling / genetics
  • Cell Line
  • Ceruletide / toxicity*
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / genetics
  • Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / metabolism
  • Pancreas, Exocrine / drug effects*
  • Pancreas, Exocrine / metabolism
  • Pancreatitis / chemically induced
  • Pancreatitis / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatitis / genetics
  • Pancreatitis / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / genetics
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA*
  • Transcription Factor RelB / genetics
  • Transcription Factor RelB / metabolism

Substances

  • Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors
  • Itpr1 protein, rat
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Relb protein, rat
  • RyR2 protein, rat
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel
  • Transcription Factor RelB
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Ceruletide