Modulation of pro-inflammatory and pro-resolution mediators by γ-linolenic acid: an important element in radioprotection against ionizing radiation

INTRODUCTION: The current study explored the radio-protective property of γ-linolenic acid (GLA) in C57BL/6J mice against low linear energy transfer ionizing radiation (IR; X-rays) and its modulatory effect on the production of lipid mediators such as prostaglandin E(2) (PGE2), leukotriene E(4) and lipoxin A(4) (LXA4) in mice plasma. METHODS: The effect of GLA pre-treatment on radiation induced inflammation was assessed by estimating plasma levels of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), TMOP/NO and various anti-oxidant enzymes. RESULTS: γ-linolenic acid pre-treated mice exposed to lethal IR dose (7.5 Gy) showed a decrease in plasma levels of HMGB1, PGE2 and LXA4 and a fall in TMOP/NO ratio and improvement in anti-oxidant enzymes: catalase, glutathione transferase and glutathione peroxidase compared to IR mice, suggesting that GLA suppresses IR-induced inflammation and restores the pro- vs. anti-oxidant ratio to near normal, which could explain its radioprotective action. CONCLUSIONS: GLA showed radioprotective action.