Protective Effect of Diet-Supplemented and Endogenously Produced Omega-3 Fatty Acids against HFD-Induced Colon Inflammation in Mice

Abstract

Perilla (Perilla frutescens) oil reduces high-fat-diet-induced colon inflammation by suppressing the NF-κB pathway. In the current study, we compared the effect of endogenously produced and externally supplemented omega-3 fatty acids on high-fat-diet-induced colon inflammation. The fat-1 transgenic mice that endogenously synthesize omega-3 fatty acids were backcrossed with C57BL/6J wild-type mice to obtain transgenic (TR) and wild-type (WT) littermates. Five-week-old male littermates were divided into five groups: two groups fed 10% normal diet (WTLD, TRLD) and three groups fed with a 60% fat high-fat diet (WTHD, TRHD, and WTPO). In the WTPO group, 8% (w/w) of perilla oil was added. Perilla oil supplemented WT mice and fat-1 transgenic mice suppressed high-fat-diet-induced body weight and improved serum lipid levels. Furthermore, the WTPO and TRHD groups exhibited increased colon length, lower macroscopic scores, and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory markers and improved epithelial integrity barrier markers. The expression of GPR120 was increased in the WTPO group. Altogether, our results indicated that perilla oil could improve the symptoms of colon inflammation as an alternate omega-3 fatty acid supplement.

The Potential of Natural Oils to Improve Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…Natural oils have a protective effect on the intestinal barrier. Supplementation with perilla oil has been found to significantly improve goblet cells that have been damaged by DSS, protect the integrity of the gut epithelium, and increase the expression levels of markers of epithelial barrier integrity, such as Claudin-1, Zo-1, Muc1, and Muc3, as shown by western blot analysis in colonic tissue [52]. Walnut oil also has a protective effect on intestinal barrier function.…”

“…Further exploration has found that Perilla oil can alleviate colonic inflammation by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB in the colon of mice [51]. Another study found that Perilla oil can reduce colonic inflammation in mice by protecting the intestinal barrier function, inhibiting the NF-κB pathway, and reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory genes, which may be related to the activation of GPR120 [52]. For the DSS-induced colitis model, Perilla oil also has an improving effect.…”

“…The activation of the MAPK and PPARγ signaling pathways is also associated with the degree of inflammation in IBD patients [124]. In a high-fat diet-induced colitis mouse model, perilla oil reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum and colon and reduced the severity of colitis in mice by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB in the colon [51,52]. Similarly, yadanzi oil has a significant anti-inflammatory effect on DSS-induced UC mice, and this protective effect is related to the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and subsequent downregulation of inflammatory mediators [76].…”

Ginsenoside Rk3 Ameliorates Obesity-Induced Colitis by Modulating Lipid Metabolism in C57BL/6 Mice

“…The supplementation with n-3 fatty acids in the diet has been reported to significantly attenuate HFD-induced colon inflammation in mice. 56 Both polyunsaturated fatty acids produce either anti-inflammatory or proinflammatory metabolites, and overall, oxidized lipids derived from n-6 PUFAs exhibit more potent pro-inflammatory and pro-proliferative properties compared to those originating from n-3 PUFAs. 57−60 Based on this, we hypothesized that Rk3 may reverse HFD-induced colon inflammation by modulating the content and metabolic level of n-6 fatty acids.…”

The Role and Mechanism of Perilla frutescens in Cancer Treatment

“…Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are a general term that includes alpha-linolenic acid, which is abundant in perilla oil (PO) [64]. This omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid has been proven to be associated with antiinflammatory [65] and lipid metabolism disorders [66]. The intake of such dietary fatty acids can improve the intestinal flora [67] as well as intestinal inflammation and metabolic disorders in diabetic patients [68].…”