The administration of ω-3 PUFAs has neuroprotective effects in rAION, possibly through dual actions of the antiapoptosis of RGCs and anti-inflammation via decreasing inflammatory cell infiltration, as well as the regulation of macrophage polarization to decrease the cytokine-induced injury of the ON.

Microbial degradation is the main process controlling the environmental dissipation of the nematicide oxamyl. Despite that, little is known regarding the microorganisms involved in its biotransformation. We report the isolation of four oxamyl-degrading bacterial strains from an agricultural soil exhibiting enhanced biodegradation of oxamyl. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) assigned the isolated bacteria to different subgroups of the genus Pseudomonas. The isolated bacteria hydrolyzed oxamyl to oxamyl oxime, which was not further transformed, and utilized methylamine as a C and N source. This was further supported by the detection of methylamine dehydrogenase in three of the four isolates. All oxamyl-degrading strains carried a gene highly homologous to a carbamate-hydrolase gene cehA previously identified in carbaryl- and carbofuran-degrading strains. Transcription analysis verified its direct involvement in the hydrolysis of oxamyl. Selected isolates exhibited relaxed degrading specificity and transformed all carbamates tested including the oximino carbamates aldicarb and methomyl (structurally related to oxamyl) and the aryl-methyl carbamates carbofuran and carbaryl which share with oxamyl only the carbamate moiety.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω3-PUFA) supplementation, alone or in combination with timolol eye drops, in a mouse model of hereditary glaucoma. DBA/2J mice (8.5-month-old) were assigned to an ω3-PUFAs + timolol, ω3-PUFAs only, timolol only, or an untreated group. Treated mice received a daily gavage administration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid and/or topical instillation of timolol (0.5%) once a day for 3 months. Blood was analysed regularly to determine ω3-PUFA levels and retinas were histologically analysed. Real-time PCR and Western blot were performed for retinal pro-inflammatory cytokines and macrophages. Blood arachidonic acid/EPA ratio gradually decreased and reached the desired therapeutic range (1-1.5) after 4 weeks of daily gavage with ω3-PUFAs in the ω3-PUFAs + timolol and ω3-PUFAs only groups. Retinal ganglion cell densities were significantly higher in the ω3-PUFAs + timolol (1303.77 ± 139.62/mm), ω3-PUFAs only (768.40 ± 52.44/mm) and timolol only (910.57 ± 57.28/mm) groups than in the untreated group (323.39 ± 95.18/mm). ω3-PUFA supplementation alone or timolol alone, significantly increased protein expression levels of M1 macrophage-secreted inducible nitric oxide synthase and M2 macrophage-secreted arginase-1 in the retina, which led to significant decreases in the expression levels of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). ω3-PUFA supplementation alone also resulted in significantly reduced expression of interleukin-18 (IL-18). ω3-PUFA + timolol treatment had no effect on the expression level of any of the aforementioned mediators in the retina. Supplementation with ω3-PUFAs has neuroprotective effect in the retinas of DBA/2J mice that is enhanced when combined with timolol eye drops. The continued inflammation following ω3-PUFAs + timolol treatment suggests that downregulation of IL-18 and TNF-α may not be the only factors involved in ω3-PUFA-mediated neuroprotection in the retina.

Three months of ω3 supplementation (AA/EPA ∼1-1.5) reduces A2E levels, lipofuscin granules, and C3 levels in the ABCA4-/- mouse model of Stargardt disease, consistent with slowing of the disease.

PurposeTo evaluate the therapeutic effects of omega-3 (ω-3) and omega-6 (ω-6) fatty acids in the CCL2−/− model of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The blood level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (AA) served to adjust the treatment dosage (AA/EPA=1–1.5).MethodsNine-month-old animals were allocated to different groups: (A) C57BL/6 untreated , (B) CCL2−/− untreated, (C) CCL2−/− treated with ω-3+ω-6, and (D) CCL2−/− treated with ω-3. Treatment was daily administered by gavage for 3 months. Fatty acids analysis was performed and retinas were histologically examined. Three-month-old wild type mice were used for comparison purposes. Real-time PCR and Western blot were performed for retinal inflammatory mediators.ResultsIncreased EPA and decreased AA levels were observed in both blood and retinas in the treatment groups. The outer nuclear layer thickness was increased in groups C (45.0±3.9 µm) and D (62.8±4.9 µm), compared with groups B (65.6±3.0 µm) and A (71.1±4.2 µm), and in younger mice, it was 98.0±3.9 µm. A decrease in NF-κB expression was noted in the treatment groups. Interleukin (IL) 18 protein levels demonstrated a significant reduction in the ω-3-treated group only.ConclusionSupplementation with ω-3+ω-6 or ω-3 alone (AA/EPA=1–1.5) suggests a protective mechanism in the CCL2−/− animal model of dry AMD, with a more beneficial effect when ω-3 are used alone. Our findings indicated that inflammation is not the only determining factor; perhaps a regenerative process might be involved following administration of ω-3 fatty acids.