Lauric acid modulates cytochrome 4V2 expression in the human THP1 macrophages

Macrophages play a major role in the inflammation. Recently, the expression of some cytochrome P450 (CYP450) 4 family enzymes was identified in the macrophages including CYP4V2, which metabolizes saturated fatty acids. Lauric acid is unsaturated fatty acid, which can induce inflammation. Its effect on the expression of CYP4V2 and the inflammatory mediators in macrophages is still unknown. This study aims to investigate the effect of lauric acid on the expression of CYP4V2 and cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX2) in the human monocytes and macrophage THP1 cell line.

The THP1 monocyte cell line was differentiated into macrophages using 100 ng/mL PMA. Then, the cells were treated with 10 µM lauric acid for 72 h. The mRNA and protein expression of human CYP4V2 and COX2 were analyzed using real-time and western blot techniques, respectively.

It was found that the mRNA and protein expression of CYP4V2 was upregulated after treatment of the macrophages with lauric acid in a dose-dependent manner. This upregulation was correlated with the expression of COX2.

It can be concluded from the results of this study that mRNA and protein expression of CYP4V2 are upregulated by lauric acid in correlation with the induction of inflammation. CYP4V2 can play a role in the inflammation process managed by macrophages.