NUCLEAR FACTOR KB IS ACTIVATED BY ARACHIDONIC-ACID BUT NOT BY EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID

The Omega-6 arachidonic acid supplementation of the human promonocytic cell line U937 strongly stimulates the nuclear translocation of the t ranscription factor NF-kB. Inhibitors of arachidonate oxidative metabo lism prevent NF-kB activation, indirectly indicating a role for prosta glandin and leukotriene metabolites in the genesis of this phenomenon. Of note, Omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid does not exert any effect on N F-kB DNA binding. In subsequent experiments, prostaglandin E(2) consis tently showed the ability to activate NF-kB in U937 promonocytic cells , as well as in J774 macrophages. NF-kB activation by arachidonate, to gether with the lack of effect by eicosapentaenoic acid, suggests a wa y to modulate the expression of certain genes by means of a suitable d ietary n-6/n-3 fairy acid ratio. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.