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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Induction of an Inflammatory Response in Primary Hepatocyte Cultures from Mice
Published on: March 10, 2017
Low omega-6/omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios reduce hepatic C-reactive protein expression in apolipoprotein
Liang Zhang1, Yue Geng, Miao Yin
1The Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
Objective:
Expression characteristics of C-reactive protein (CRP) for the omega-6/omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratios have not been evaluated in the well-qualified experimental atherosclerotic mouse model. This work focused on characteristics of CRP expression in the liver of apolipoprotein E-null (apoE(-/-)) mice influenced by omega-6/omega-3 PUFA ratios.
Methods:
Varying ratios of omega-6/omega-3 PUFAs (group 1, 1.28; group 2, 5.03; group 3, 9.98; and group 4, 68.26, respectively) on hepatic and aortic CRP expressions were assessed in male apoE(-/-) mice fed a diet containing 5% (w/w) experimental fat for 6 wk. Hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma mRNA abundance, hepatic interleukin (IL)-6 protein level, atherosclerotic lesions, and serum cytokines including IL-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were examined.
Results:
As the dietary ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids ascended, so did the expression of hepatic and aortic CRP and hepatic IL-6 protein. However, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma mRNA level had a tendency to decrease. Serum IL-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels did not show a statistical difference among the mice fed the four ratios of the omega-6/omega-3 PUFA diet. The group 4 mice developed a significant increase in atherosclerotic lesions compared with the other groups.
Conclusion:
The results indicated that low ratios of omega-6/omega-3 PUFAs (1.28-9.98) downregulated the hepatic and aortic CRP expressions and reduced aortic en face lesions in apoE(-/-) mice compared with the high ratio of the omega-6/omega-3 PUFA diet.
