Background-Omega-3 FA (ω-3 FA) have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties; postulated to occur through several principal mechanisms, including 1) displacement of arachidonic acid from the cellular membrane, 2) shifting of PGE 2 and LTB 4 production and 3) molecular level alterations including decreased activation of NF-κB and AP-1. An additional regulator that is likely associated is the production of nitric oxide (NO) by nitric oxide synthetase. NO is a short-lived free radical involved in many biological functions. However, excessive NO production can lead to complications, suggesting that decreased NO production is a potential target for some inflammatory diseases. We hypothesized that pretreating with an ω-3 FA lipid emulsion would decrease the production of NO in macrophages and that this effect would occur through alterations in inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS).
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