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The omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), prevents the damaging effects of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha during murine skeletal muscle cell differentiation

Magee, P; Pearson, S; Allen, J

The omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), prevents the damaging effects of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha during murine skeletal muscle cell differentiation Thumbnail


Authors

P Magee

J Allen



Abstract

Background: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is a -3 polyunsaturated fatty acid with antiinflammatory
and anti-cachetic properties that may have potential benefits with regards to skeletal muscle atrophy conditions where inflammation is present. It is also reported that pathologic levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α are associated with muscle wasting, exerted through inhibition of myogenic differentiation and enhanced apoptosis. These findings led us to hypothesize that EPA may have a protective effect against skeletal muscle damage induced by the actions of TNF-α.
Results: The deleterious effects of TNF-α on C2C12 myogenesis were completely inhibited by co-treatment with EPA. Thus, EPA prevented the TNF-mediated loss of MyHC expression and significantly increased myogenic fusion (p < 0.05) and myotube diameter (p < 0.05) indices back to
control levels. EPA protective activity was associated with blocking cell death pathways as EPA completely attenuated TNF-mediated increases in caspase-8 activity (p < 0.05) and cellular necrosis (p < 0.05) back to their respective control levels. EPA alone significantly reduced spontaneous
apoptosis and necrosis of differentiating myotubes (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). A 2 hour pre-treatment with EPA, prior to treatment with TNF alone, gave similar results.
Conclusion: In conclusion, EPA has a protective action against the damaging effects of TNF-α on C2C12 myogenesis. These findings support further investigations of EPA as a potential therapeutic agent during skeletal muscle regeneration following injury.

Citation

Magee, P., Pearson, S., & Allen, J. (2008). The omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), prevents the damaging effects of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha during murine skeletal muscle cell differentiation. Lipids in Health and Disease, 7(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-511X-7-24

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2008
Deposit Date Jun 2, 2011
Publicly Available Date Apr 5, 2016
Journal Lipids in Health and Disease
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 7
Issue 1
Pages 24
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-511X-7-24
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-511X-7-24

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