Effects of Omega-3s and Vitamin E Prophylactic Diets and the Implications of Lipid Transport in Spinal Cord Injury
type: CreativeWork
description: Traumatic injury to the central nervous system (CNS) presents a devastating problem to our society. Although current interventions are promising, no effective treatments are available. The neural membrane fatty acid composition is markedly altered during the first few days after spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI results in autonomic dysfunction, paralysis, spasticity, and significant chronic neuropathic pain. The trauma leads to significantly increased levels of free radical and oxidative stress that contribute to obstructing tissue healing and recovery. A growing body of evidence shows that administration of hydrophobic molecules such as Vitamin E and long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3PUFAs) are capable of attenuating secondary damage, while promoting functional recovery after SCI. The precise molecular mechanisms coupling ω3PUFAs and Vitamin E to pro-restorative targets, is not well understood. Increasing attention is now being paid to understand the cellular targets of these hydrophobic molecules and how they are being transported after CNS trauma. The present study investigates the impact pre-treatment with ω3PUFAs and Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) in key functional outcomes observed during the acute phase of SCI. Additionally, we explored potential mechanisms through which these hydrophobic molecules were exerting its beneficial effects such as the survival of motor neurons and oligodendrocytes and the transport of ω3PUFAs and Vitamin E. Due to the hydrophobicity of ω3PUFAs and Vitamin E, membrane transport may be required to facilitate their mobilization and meet the increased metabolic demand at the injury site. The fatty acid translocase/membrane cluster of differentiation 36 (FAT/CD36) is a B class scavenger receptor, which has been implicated in the uptake and signaling of hydrophobic molecules, including ω3PUFAs and Vitamin E. Female adult Sprague-Dawley rats were received tail injections with ω3PUFAs (i.e. DHA) or were fed either with a normal…
abstract: Traumatic injury to the central nervous system (CNS) presents a devastating problem to our society. Although current interventions are promising, no effective treatments are available. The neural membrane fatty acid composition is markedly altered during the first few days after spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI results in autonomic dysfunction, paralysis, spasticity, and significant chronic neuropathic pain. The trauma leads to significantly increased levels of free radical and oxidative stress that contribute to obstructing tissue healing and recovery. A growing body of evidence shows that administration of hydrophobic molecules such as Vitamin E and long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3PUFAs) are capable of attenuating secondary damage, while promoting functional recovery after SCI. The precise molecular mechanisms coupling ω3PUFAs and Vitamin E to pro-restorative targets, is not well understood. Increasing attention is now being paid to understand the cellular targets of these hydrophobic molecules and how they are being transported after CNS trauma. The present study investigates the impact pre-treatment with ω3PUFAs and Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) in key functional outcomes observed during the acute phase of SCI. Additionally, we explored potential mechanisms through which these hydrophobic molecules were exerting its beneficial effects such as the survival of motor neurons and oligodendrocytes and the transport of ω3PUFAs and Vitamin E. Due to the hydrophobicity of ω3PUFAs and Vitamin E, membrane transport may be required to facilitate their mobilization and meet the increased metabolic demand at the injury site. The fatty acid translocase/membrane cluster of differentiation 36 (FAT/CD36) is a B class scavenger receptor, which has been implicated in the uptake and signaling of hydrophobic molecules, including ω3PUFAs and Vitamin E. Female adult Sprague-Dawley rats were received tail injections with ω3PUFAs (i.e. DHA) or were fed either with a normal…
author: Cordero-Caban, Kathia
language: English
keywords: Medicine and Health Sciences, Physiological Processes, Physiology, Spinal Cord Injuries; Fatty Acids; Omega-3 - Physiological effect; Fatty Acids; Omega-3 - Therapeutic use; Vitamin E - Physiological effect; Vitamin E - Therapeutic use, Lipid Transport
date published: 2018-06-01T07:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:52:45Z
provider: Loma Linda University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Loma Linda University