Objectives: 

Both oleic and ω3 fatty acids have been shown to display anti-inflammatory properties in several diseases. We aimed to investigate whether previous enrichment of cell membranes with either oleic acid or long chain ω3 PUFA can influence inflammatory parameters in pancreatic AR42J cells challenged with caerulein.

Materials: 

AR42J cells were cultured for 72 h in medium enriched with 18:1&#969;9 (50 &#956;M) or &#969;3 PUFA (15 mM 20:5&#969;3 + 10 mM 22:6&#969;3). Cells cultured in standard medium were used as control1. Incorporation of fatty acids into cell membranes was confirmed by G.L.C. Next, cells were treated for 24h with or without 10-8 M cerulein. NF-&#954;B activation was evaluated through analysis of I&#954;B&#945; levels (Western blotting, anti-IkB&#945;, Cell Signalling Technology) and NF-&#954;B-DNA binding activity (TransAMTM NF&#312;B Chemi p65/p50/p52 ELISA kit, Active Motif) in cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts, respectively. Means were compared using Student's t-test or one-way ANOVA plus DMS post-hoc test where appropriate; values were considered to be significantly different when P < 0.05.

Results: 

Cell membranes were enriched with the specific fatty acids provided in the culture medium. Unlike the control group, cerulein induced neither NF-&#954;B activation nor IL-6 secretion in the membrane-modified groups.

Conclusions: 

Membrane enrichment with either oleic acid or mixed &#969;3 PUFA evidences positive aspects of the cell reaction against cerulein in terms of inflammatory response pattern. Whether membrane modification by dietary means is relevant for determining the cell response to noxious stimuli should be ascertained.