Journal Article

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Reduce Adipose Tissue Macrophages in Human Subjects With Insulin Resistance

Morris, Andrew J., Finlin, Brian S., McGehee, Robert E., Kern, Philip A., Zhu, Beibei, Adu, Akosua, Lee, Jonah, Walton, R. Grace, Unal, Resat, Shipp, Lindsey R., Erfani, Rod, Campbell, Marilyn, Spencer, Michael, Peterson, Charlotte A.

2013

Overview

Fish oils (FOs) have anti-inflammatory effects and lower serum triglycerides. This study examined adipose and muscle inflammatory markers after treatment of humans with FOs and measured the effects of ω-3 fatty acids on adipocytes and macrophages in vitro. Insulin-resistant, nondiabetic subjects were treated with Omega-3-Acid Ethyl Esters (4 g/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. Plasma macrophage chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) levels were reduced by FO, but the levels of other cytokines were unchanged. The adipose (but not muscle) of FO-treated subjects demonstrated a decrease in macrophages, a decrease in MCP-1, and an increase in capillaries, and subjects with the most macrophages demonstrated the greatest response to treatment. Adipose and muscle ω-3 fatty acid content increased after treatment; however, there was no change in insulin sensitivity or adiponectin. In vitro, M1-polarized macrophages expressed high levels of MCP-1. The addition of ω-3 fatty acids reduced MCP-1 expression with no effect on TNF-α. In addition, ω-3 fatty acids suppressed the upregulation of adipocyte MCP-1 that occurred when adipocytes were cocultured with macrophages. Thus, FO reduced adipose macrophages, increased capillaries, and reduced MCP-1 expression in insulin-resistant humans and in macrophages and adipocytes in vitro; however, there was no measureable effect on insulin sensitivity.

• Publisher: American Diabetes Association
• Subject: Abdominal Fat - blood supply / Abdominal Fat - immunology / Abdominal Fat - metabolism / Abdominal Fat - pathology / Adipocytes / Adipose tissue / Adipose tissues / Angiogenesis Inducing Agents - metabolism / Angiogenesis Inducing Agents - therapeutic use / Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - metabolism / Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use / Biological and medical sciences / Biopsy / Blood vessels / Body fat / Body Mass Index / Capillaries - immunology / Capillaries - metabolism / Capillaries - pathology / Cells, Cultured / Chemokine CCL2 - blood / Chemokine CCL2 - genetics / Chemokine CCL2 - metabolism / Chronic illnesses / Coculture Techniques / Collagen / Cytokines / Diabetes / Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance / Dietary Supplements / Docosahexaenoic Acids / Down-Regulation / Drug Combinations / Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases) / Endocrinopathies / Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance / Fatty acids / Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism / Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use / Female / Fish oils / Fish Oils - therapeutic use / Genetic aspects / Glucose / Human subjects / Humans / Inflammation / Insulin Resistance / Macrophages / Macrophages - immunology / Macrophages - metabolism / Macrophages - pathology / Male / Medical sciences / Metabolic syndrome / Metabolic Syndrome - complications / Metabolic Syndrome - diet therapy / Metabolic Syndrome - immunology / Metabolic Syndrome - metabolism / Middle Aged / Muscles - immunology / Muscles - metabolism / Muscles - pathology / Obesity - complications / Omega 3 fatty acids / Original Research / Physiological aspects / Plasma / RNA, Messenger - metabolism / Stains & staining / Triglycerides / Tumor necrosis factor-TNF