Docosahexaenoic Acid and Its Role in G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 120 Activation in Children Affected by Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects of DHA in children with NAFLD and its mechanism via GPR120 activation.
Results Summary
DHA demonstrated anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects in children with NAFLD by altering cell membrane phospholipids, disrupting lipid rafts, and inhibiting NF-κB activity. These effects were linked to GPR120 activation in macrophages and Kupffer cells, suggesting DHA may slow NAFLD progression.
Population
Children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
therapeutic supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) | decrease | inflammation and insulin sensitivity | children with NAFLD | - | showed an anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effect | #1 |
DHA | decrease | phospholipid composition, lipid rafts, transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-κB | - | - | alter phospholipid composition of the cell membrane, disrupt lipid rafts and hamper the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-κB | #2 |
DHA | decrease | expression of proinflammatory cytokines | - | - | controls the expression of proinflammatory cytokines | #3 |
DHA | increase | GPR120 expression, inflammation, insulin sensitivity, diabetes | in vivo | - | activate GPR120 expression in macrophages causing anti-inflammatory effects, and insulin-sensitizing and antidiabetic effects | #4 |
A diet low in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids | decrease | GRP120 signal, activation of Kupffer cells, inflammation | during NAFLD | - | induce a reduction in the GRP120 signal and the activation of Kupffer cells and inflammation | #5 |
DHA/GRP120 | decrease | progression of liver damage | patients with NAFLD | - | play a key role in slowing the progression of liver damage | #6 |
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease in children and adults. Recently, therapeutic supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) showed an anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effect in children with NAFLD. The anti-inflammatory effects of DHA depend on its ability to alter phospholipid composition of the cell membrane, to disrupt lipid rafts and to hamper the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-x03BA;B that controls the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. These effects of DHA are due to the interaction with the G-protein-coupled receptor 120 (GRP120), a lipid-sensing receptor highly expressed in activated macrophages. In fact, DHA may activate GPR120 expression in macrophages causing anti-inflammatory effects, and insulin-sensitizing and antidiabetic effects in vivo. Recently, it has been shown that GPR120 is also expressed by the Kupffer cells of the liver. A diet low in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as the presence of genetic factors, may induce a reduction in the GRP120 signal and the activation of Kupffer cells and inflammation during NAFLD. Therefore, it is conceivable that DHA/GRP120 may play a key role in slowing the progression of liver damage in patients with NAFLD.