Longitudinal peripheral tissue RNA-Seq transcriptomic profiling, hyperalgesia, and wound healing in the rat plantar surgical incision model.

Postoperative pain and delayed healing in surgical wounds, which require complex management strategies have understudied complicated mechanisms. Here we investigated temporal changes in behavior, tissue structure, and transcriptomic profiles in a rat model of a surgical incision, using hyperalgesic behavioral tests, histological analyses, and next-generation RNA sequencing, respectively. The most rapidly (1 hour) expressed genes were the chemokines, Cxcl1 and Cxcl2. Consequently, infiltrating leukocytes were abundantly observed starting at 6 and peaking at 24 hours after incising which was supported by histological analysis and appearance of the neutrophil markers, S100a8 and S100a9. At this time, hyperalgesia was at a peak and overall transcriptional activity was most highly activated. At the 1-day timepoint, Nppb, coding for natriuretic peptide precursor B, was the most strongly upregulated gene and was localized by in situ hybridization to the epidermal keratinocytes at the margins of the incision. Nppb was basically unaffected in a peripheral inflammation model transcriptomic dataset. At the late phase of wound healing, five secreted, incision-specific peptidases, Mmp2, Aebp1, Mmp23, Adamts7, and Adamtsl1, showed increased expression, supporting the idea of a sustained tissue remodeling process. Transcripts that are specifically upregulated at each timepoint in the incision model may be potential candidates for either biomarkers or therapeutic targets for wound pain and wound healing. This study incorporates the examination of longitudinal temporal molecular responses, corresponding anatomical localization, and hyperalgesic behavioral alterations in the surgical incision model that together provide important and novel foundational knowledge to understand mechanisms of wound pain and wound healing.

Whole-body DHA synthesis-secretion kinetics from plasma eicosapentaenoic acid and alpha-linolenic acid in the free-living rat.

Whole body docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) synthesis from α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) is considered to be very low, however, the daily synthesis-secretion of DHA may be sufficient to supply the adult brain. The current study aims to assess whether whole body DHA synthesis-secretion kinetics are different when comparing plasma ALA versus eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) as the precursor. Male Long Evans rats (n=6) were fed a 2% ALA in total fat diet for eight weeks, followed by surgery to implant a catheter into each of the jugular vein and carotid artery and 3h of steady-state infusion with a known amount of (2)H-ALA and (13)C-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n3). Blood samples were collected at thirty-minute intervals and plasma enrichment of (2)H- and (13)C EPA, n-3 docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn-3, 22:5n-3) and DHA were determined for assessment of synthesis-secretion kinetic parameters. Results indicate a 13-fold higher synthesis-secretion coefficient for DHA from EPA as compared to ALA. However, after correcting for the 6.6 fold higher endogenous plasma ALA concentration, no significant differences in daily synthesis-secretion (nmol/day) of DHA (97.6±28.2 and 172±62), DPAn-3 (853±279 and 1139±484) or EPA (1587±592 and 1628±366) were observed from plasma unesterified ALA and EPA sources, respectively. These results suggest that typical diets which are significantly higher in ALA compared to EPA yield similar daily DHA synthesis-secretion despite a significantly higher synthesis-secretion coefficient from EPA.

Whole-Body Docosahexaenoic Acid Synthesis-Secretion Rates in Rats Are Constant across a Large Range of Dietary α-Linolenic Acid Intakes.

BACKGROUND: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an ω-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) thought to be important for brain function. Although the main dietary source of DHA is fish, DHA can also be synthesized from α-linolenic acid (ALA), which is derived from plants. Enzymes involved in DHA synthesis are also active toward ω-6 (n-6) PUFAs to synthesize docosapentaenoic acid n-6 (DPAn-6). It is unclear whether DHA synthesis from ALA is sufficient to maintain brain DHA. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine how different amounts of dietary ALA would affect whole-body DHA and DPAn-6 synthesis rates. METHODS: Male Long-Evans rats were fed an ALA-deficient diet (ALA-D), an ALA-adequate (ALA-A) diet, or a high-ALA (ALA-H) diet for 8 wk from weaning. Dietary ALA concentrations were 0.07%, 3%, and 10% of the fatty acids, and ALA was the only dietary PUFA that differed between the diets. After 8 wk, steady-state stable isotope infusion of labeled ALA and linoleic acid (LA) was performed to determine the in vivo synthesis-secretion rates of DHA and DPAn-6. RESULTS: Rats fed the ALA-A diet had an ∼2-fold greater capacity to synthesize DHA than did rats fed the ALA-H and ALA-D diets, and a DHA synthesis rate that was similar to that of rats fed the ALA-H diet. However, rats fed the ALA-D diet had a 750% lower DHA synthesis rate than rats fed the ALA-A and ALA-H diets. Despite enrichment into arachidonic acid, we did not detect any labeled LA appearing as DPAn-6. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing dietary ALA from 3% to 10% of fatty acids did not increase DHA synthesis rates, because of a decreased capacity to synthesize DHA in rats fed the ALA-H diet. Tissue concentrations of DPAn-6 may be explained at least in part by longer plasma half-lives.

Intravenous infusion of docosahexaenoic acid increases serum concentrations in a dose-dependent manner and increases seizure latency in the maximal PTZ model.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) that has been shown to raise seizure thresholds in the maximal pentylenetetrazole model following acute subcutaneous (s.c.) administration in rats. Following s.c. administration, however, the dose-response relationship for DHA has shown an inverted U-pattern. The purposes of the present experiment were as follows: (1) to determine the pattern of serum unesterified concentrations resulting from the intravenous (i.v.) infusions of various doses of DHA, (2) to determine the time course of these concentrations following the discontinuation of the infusions, and (3) to determine whether seizure protection in the maximal PTZ model would correlate with serum unesterified DHA levels. Animals received 5-minute i.v. infusions of saline or 25, 50, 100, or 200mg/kg of DHA via a cannula inserted into one of the tail veins. Blood was collected during and after the infusions by means of a second cannula inserted into the other tail vein (Experiment 1). A separate group of animals received saline or 12.5-, 25-, 50-, 100-, or 200 mg/kg DHA i.v. via a cannula inserted into one of the tail veins and were then seizure-tested in the maximal PTZ model either during infusion or after the discontinuation of the infusions. Slow infusions of DHA increased serum unesterified DHA concentrations in a dose-dependent manner, with the 200-mg/kg dose increasing the concentration approximately 260-fold compared with saline-infused animals. Following discontinuation of the infusions, serum concentrations rapidly dropped toward baseline, with half-lives of approximately 40 and 11s for the 25-mg/kg dose and 100-mg/kg dose, respectively. In the seizure-tested animals, DHA significantly increased latency to seizure onset in a dose-dependent manner. Following the discontinuation of infusion, seizure latency rapidly decreased toward baseline. Overall, our study suggests that i.v. infusion of unesterified DHA results in transient anticonvulsant effects which parallel unesterified DHA serum concentrations.

Whole body synthesis rates of DHA from α-linolenic acid are greater than brain DHA accretion and uptake rates in adult rats.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is important for brain function, however, the exact amount required for the brain is not agreed upon. While it is believed that the synthesis rate of DHA from α-linolenic acid (ALA) is low, how this synthesis rate compares with the amount of DHA required to maintain brain DHA levels is unknown. The objective of this work was to assess whether DHA synthesis from ALA is sufficient for the brain. To test this, rats consumed a diet low in n-3 PUFAs, or a diet containing ALA or DHA for 15 weeks. Over the 15 weeks, whole body and brain DHA accretion was measured, while at the end of the study, whole body DHA synthesis rates, brain gene expression, and DHA uptake rates were measured. Despite large differences in body DHA accretion, there was no difference in brain DHA accretion between rats fed ALA and DHA. In rats fed ALA, DHA synthesis and accretion was 100-fold higher than brain DHA accretion of rats fed DHA. Also, ALA-fed rats synthesized approximately 3-fold more DHA than the DHA uptake rate into the brain. This work indicates that DHA synthesis from ALA may be sufficient to supply the brain.

Intraperitoneal administration of docosahexaenoic acid for 14days increases serum unesterified DHA and seizure latency in the maximal pentylenetetrazol model.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) which has been shown to raise seizure thresholds following acute administration in rats. The aims of the present experiment were the following: 1) to test whether subchronic DHA administration raises seizure threshold in the maximal pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) model 24h following the last injection and 2) to determine whether the increase in seizure threshold is correlated with an increase in serum and/or brain DHA. Animals received daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 50mg/kg of DHA, DHA ethyl ester (DHA EE), or volume-matched vehicle (albumin/saline) for 14days. On day 15, one subset of animals was seizure tested in the maximal PTZ model (Experiment 1). In a separate (non-seizure tested) subset of animals, blood was collected, and brains were excised following high-energy, head-focused microwave fixation. Lipid analysis was performed on serum and brain (Experiment 2). For data analysis, the DHA and DHA EE groups were combined since they did not differ significantly from each other. In the maximal PTZ model, DHA significantly increased seizure latency by approximately 3-fold as compared to vehicle-injected animals. This increase in seizure latency was associated with an increase in serum unesterified DHA. Total brain DHA and brain unesterified DHA concentrations, however, did not differ significantly in the treatment and control groups. An increase in serum unesterified DHA concentration reflecting increased flux of DHA to the brain appears to explain changes in seizure threshold, independent of changes in brain DHA concentrations.

The low levels of eicosapentaenoic acid in rat brain phospholipids are maintained via multiple redundant mechanisms.

Brain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels are 250- to 300-fold lower than docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), at least partly, because EPA is rapidly ß-oxidized and lost from brain phospholipids. Therefore, we examined if ß-oxidation was necessary for maintaining low EPA levels by inhibiting ß-oxidation with methyl palmoxirate (MEP). Furthermore, because other metabolic differences between DHA and EPA may also contribute to their vastly different levels, this study aimed to quantify the incorporation and turnover of DHA and EPA into brain phospholipids. Fifteen-week-old rats were subjected to vehicle or MEP prior to a 5 min intravenous infusion of (14)C-palmitate, (14)C-DHA, or (14)C-EPA. MEP reduced the radioactivity of brain aqueous fractions for (14)C-palmitate-, (14)C-EPA-, and (14)C-DHA-infused rats by 74, 54, and 23%, respectively; while it increased the net rate of incorporation of plasma unesterified palmitate into choline glycerophospholipids and phosphatidylinositol and EPA into ethanolamine glycerophospholipids and phosphatidylserine. MEP also increased the synthesis of n-3 docosapentaenoic acid (n-3 DPA) from EPA. Moreover, the recycling of EPA into brain phospholipids was 154-fold lower than DHA. Therefore, the low levels of EPA in the brain are maintained by multiple redundant pathways including ß-oxidation, decreased incorporation from plasma unesterified FA pool, elongation/desaturation to n-3 DPA, and lower recycling within brain phospholipids.

Hepatocyte-specific deletion of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) protects against diet-induced steatohepatitis and glucose intolerance.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming the leading cause of chronic liver disease and is now considered to be the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. However, the role of steatosis per se and the precise factors required in the progression to steatohepatitis or insulin resistance remain elusive. The JAK-STAT pathway is critical in mediating signaling of a wide variety of cytokines and growth factors. Mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of Janus kinase 2 (L-JAK2 KO mice) develop spontaneous steatosis as early as 2 weeks of age. In this study, we investigated the metabolic consequences of jak2 deletion in response to diet-induced metabolic stress. To our surprise, despite the profound hepatosteatosis, deletion of hepatic jak2 did not sensitize the liver to accelerated inflammatory injury on a prolonged high fat diet (HFD). This was accompanied by complete protection against HFD-induced whole-body insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Improved glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and an increase in ß-cell mass were also present in these mice. Moreover, L-JAK2 KO mice had progressively reduced adiposity in association with blunted hepatic growth hormone signaling. These mice also exhibited increased resting energy expenditure on both chow and high fat diet. In conclusion, our findings indicate a key role of hepatic JAK2 in metabolism such that its absence completely arrests steatohepatitis development and confers protection against diet-induced systemic insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.

Endogenous Derivatives of Linoleic Acid and their Stable Analogs Are Potential Pain Mediators.

Psoriasis is characterized by intense pruritus, with a subset of individuals with psoriasis experiencing thermal hypersensitivity. However, the pathophysiology of thermal hypersensitivity in psoriasis and other skin conditions remains enigmatic. Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid that is concentrated in the skin, and oxidation of linoleic acid into metabolites with multiple hydroxyl and epoxide functional groups has been shown to play a role in skin barrier function. Previously, we identified several linoleic acid‒derived mediators that were more concentrated in psoriatic lesions, but the role of these lipids in psoriasis remains unknown. In this study, we report that two such compounds-9,10-epoxy-13-hydroxy-octadecenoate and 9,10,13-trihydroxy-octadecenoate-are present as free fatty acids and induce nociceptive behavior in mice but not in rats. By chemically stabilizing 9,10-epoxy-13-hydroxy-octadecenoate and 9,10,13-trihydroxy-octadecenoate through the addition of methyl groups, we observed pain and hypersensitization in mice. The nociceptive responses suggest an involvement of the TRPA1 channel, whereas hypersensitive responses induced by these mediators may require both TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels. Furthermore, we showed that 9,10,13-trihydroxy-octadecenoate‒induced calcium transients in sensory neurons are mediated through the Gßγ subunit of an unidentified G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). Overall, mechanistic insights from this study will guide the development of potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of pain and hypersensitivity.

Dietary linoleic acid lowering alone does not lower arachidonic acid or endocannabinoids among women with overweight and obesity: A randomized, controlled trial.

The linoleic acid (LA)-arachidonic acid (ARA)-inflammatory axis suggests dietary LA lowering benefits health because it lowers ARA and ARA-derived endocannabinoids (ECB). Dietary LA reduction increases concentrations of omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and DHA derived ECB. The aim of this study was to examine targeted reduction of dietary LA, with and without EPA and DHA, on plasma EPA and DHA and ECB (2-arachidonoyl glycerol [2-AG], anandamide [AEA], and docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide [DHA-EA]). Healthy, pre-menopausal women (n = 62, BMI 30 ± 3 kg/m2 , age 35 ± 7 years; mean ± SD) were randomized to three 12-week controlled diets: (1) high LA, low omega-3 EPA and DHA (H6L3); (2) low LA, low omega-3 EPA and DHA (L6L3); or (3) low LA, high omega-3 EPA and DHA (L6H3). Baseline plasma fatty acids and ECB were similar between diets. Starting at 4 weeks, L6L3 and L6H3 lowered plasma LA compared to H6L3 (p < 0.001). While plasma ARA changed from baseline by 8% in L6L3 and -8% in L6H3, there were no group differences. After 4 weeks, plasma EPA and DHA increased from baseline in women on the L6H3 diet (ps < 0.001) and were different than the H6L3 and L6L3 diets. No differences were found between diets for AEA or 2-AG, however, in L6L3 and L6H3, AEA increased by 14% (ps < 0.02). L6H3 resulted in 35% higher DHA-EA (p = 0.013) whereas no changes were seen with the other diets. Lowering dietary LA did not result in the expected changes in fatty acids associated with the LA-ARA inflammatory axis in women with overweight and obesity.

NIH's Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM Initiative (NIH HEAL Initiative) Clinical Pain Management Common Data Element Program.

The Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative (NIH HEAL Initiative) is an aggressive trans-NIH effort to speed solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis, including through improved pain management. Toward this end, the NIH HEAL Initiative launched a common data element (CDE) program to ensure that NIH-funded clinical pain research studies would collect data in a standardized way. NIH HEAL Initiative staff launched a process to determine which pain-related core domains should be assessed by every clinical pain study and what questionnaires are required to ensure that the data is collected uniformly. The process involved multiple literature reviews, and consultation with experts inside and outside of NIH and the investigators conducting studies funded by the initiative. Ultimately, 9 core pain domains, and questionnaires to measure them, were chosen for studies examining acute pain and chronic pain in adults and pediatric populations. These were augmented with dozens of study-specific supplemental questionnaires to enable uniform data collection methods of outcomes outside of the core domains. The selection of core domains will ensure that valuable clinical pain data generated by the initiative is standardized, useable for secondary data analysis, and useful for guiding future research, clinical practice decisions, and policymaking. PERSPECTIVE: The NIH HEAL Initiative launched a common data element program to ensure that NIH-funded clinical pain research studies would collect data in a standardized way. Nine core pain domains and questionnaires to measure them were chosen for studies examining acute pain and chronic pain in adults and pediatric populations.

Biochemical and behavioral effects of decreasing dietary linoleic acid and increasing eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in a rat chronic monoarthrits model.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that decreasing linoleic acid (LA) while increasing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in diets evokes an analgesic effect in headache sufferers. We utilized a rat chronic monoarthritis model to determine if these analgesic effects can be reproduced in rats and to and further probe potential analgesic mechanisms. We fed 8 rats a control diet (with fatty acid levels similar to standard US diets) and 8 rats a low LA diet with added EPA and DHA (H3L6 diet) and after 10 weeks, performed a unilateral intraarticular injection of Complete's Freund Adjuvant (CFA). We evaluated thermal and mechanical sensitivity as well as hind paw weight bearing prior to and at 4 and 20 days post CFA injection. At 28 days post CFA injection rats were euthanized and tissue collected. H3L6 diet fed rats had higher concentrations of EPA and DHA, as well as higher concentrations of oxidized lipids derived from these fatty acids, in hind paw and plasma, compared to control fed rats. LA and oxidized LA metabolites were lower in the plasma and hind paw of H3L6 compared to control fed rats. Diet did not affect thermal or mechanical sensitivity, nor did it affect hind paw weight bearing. In conclusion, the H3L6 diet evoked biochemical changes in rats but did not impact pain related behavioral measures in this chronic monoarthritis model.

Targeted dietary interventions to reduce pain in persistent post-traumatic headache among service members: Protocol for a randomized, controlled parallel-group trial.

INTRODUCTION: Post-traumatic headache (PTH) is common after traumatic brain injury (TBI), especially among active-duty service members (SMs), affecting up to 35% of patients with chronic TBI. Persistent PTH is disabling and frequently unresponsive to treatment and is often migrainous. Here, we describe a trial assessing whether dietary modifications to increase n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and reduce n-6 linoleic acid (LA), will alter nociceptive lipid mediators and result in clinical improvements in persistent PTH. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, controlled trial tests the efficacy, safety, and biochemical effects of targeted, controlled alterations in dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in 122 adult SMs and military healthcare beneficiaries with diagnosed TBI associated with actively managed persistent frequent (>8 /month) PTH with migraine. Following a 4-week baseline, participants are randomized to one of two equally intensive dietary regimens for 12 additional weeks: 1) increased n-3 EPA + DHA with low n-6 LA (H3L6); 2) usual US dietary content of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids (Control). During the intervention, participants receive diet arm-specific study oils and foods sufficient for 75% of caloric needs and comprehensive dietary counseling. Participants complete daily headache diaries throughout the intervention. Clinical outcomes, including the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), headache hours per day, circulating blood fatty acid levels, and bioactive metabolites, are measured pre-randomization and at 6 and 12 weeks. Planned primary analyses include pre-post comparisons of treatment groups on clinical measures using ANCOVA and mixed-effects models. Similar approaches to explore biochemical and exploratory clinical outcomes are planned. CLINICALTRIALS: gov registration: NCT03272399.

Molecular Pathways Linking Oxylipins to Nociception in Rats.

Oxylipins are lipid peroxidation products that participate in nociceptive, inflammatory, and vascular responses to injury. Effects of oxylipins depend on tissue-specific differences in accumulation of precursor polyunsaturated fatty acids and the expression of specific enzymes to transform the precursors. The study of oxylipins in nociception has presented technical challenges leading to critical knowledge gaps in the way these molecules operate in nociception. We applied a systems-based approach to characterize oxylipin precursor fatty acids, and expression of genes coding for proteins involved in biosynthesis, transport, signaling and inactivation of pro- and antinociceptive oxylipins in pain circuit tissues. We further linked these pathways to nociception by demonstrating intraplantar carrageenan injection induced gene expression changes in oxylipin biosynthetic pathways. We determined functional-biochemical relevance of the proposed pathways in rat hind paw and dorsal spinal cord by measuring basal and stimulated levels of oxylipins throughout the time-course of carrageenan-induced inflammation. Finally, when oxylipins were administered by intradermal injection we observed modulation of nociceptive thermal hypersensitivity, providing a functional-behavioral link between oxylipins, their molecular biosynthetic pathways, and involvement in pain and nociception. Together, these findings advance our understanding of molecular lipidomic systems linking oxylipins and their precursors to nociceptive and inflammatory signaling pathways in rats. PERSPECTIVE: We applied a systems approach to characterize molecular pathways linking precursor lipids and oxylipins to nociceptive signaling. This systematic, quantitative evaluation of the molecular pathways linking oxylipins to nociception provides a framework for future basic and clinical research investigating the role of oxylipins in pain.

Dietary alteration of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids for headache reduction in adults with migraine: randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dietary interventions that increase n-3 fatty acids with and without reduction in n-6 linoleic acid can alter circulating lipid mediators implicated in headache pathogenesis, and decrease headache in adults with migraine. DESIGN: Three arm, parallel group, randomized, modified double blind, controlled trial. SETTING: Ambulatory, academic medical center in the United States over 16 weeks. PARTICIPANTS: 182 participants (88% women, mean age 38 years) with migraines on 5-20 days per month (67% met criteria for chronic migraine). INTERVENTIONS: Three diets designed with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and linoleic acid altered as controlled variables: H3 diet (n=61)-increase EPA+DHA to 1.5 g/day and maintain linoleic acid at around 7% of energy; H3-L6 diet (n=61)-increase n-3 EPA+DHA to 1.5 g/day and decrease linoleic acid to ≤1.8% of energy; control diet (n=60)-maintain EPA+DHA at <150 mg/day and linoleic acid at around 7% of energy. All participants received foods accounting for two thirds of daily food energy and continued usual care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoints (week 16) were the antinociceptive mediator 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (17-HDHA) in blood and the headache impact test (HIT-6), a six item questionnaire assessing headache impact on quality of life. Headache frequency was assessed daily with an electronic diary. RESULTS: In intention-to-treat analyses (n=182), the H3-L6 and H3 diets increased circulating 17-HDHA (log ng/mL) compared with the control diet (baseline-adjusted mean difference 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.2 to 0.9; 0.7, 0.4 to 1.1, respectively). The observed improvement in HIT-6 scores in the H3-L6 and H3 groups was not statistically significant (-1.6, -4.2 to 1.0, and -1.5, -4.2 to 1.2, respectively). Compared with the control diet, the H3-L6 and H3 diets decreased total headache hours per day (-1.7, -2.5 to -0.9, and -1.3, -2.1 to -0.5, respectively), moderate to severe headache hours per day (-0.8, -1.2 to -0.4, and -0.7, -1.1 to -0.3, respectively), and headache days per month (-4.0, -5.2 to -2.7, and -2.0, -3.3 to -0.7, respectively). The H3-L6 diet decreased headache days per month more than the H3 diet (-2.0, -3.2 to -0.8), suggesting additional benefit from lowering dietary linoleic acid. The H3-L6 and H3 diets altered n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and several of their nociceptive oxylipin derivatives in plasma, serum, erythrocytes or immune cells, but did not alter classic headache mediators calcitonin gene related peptide and prostaglandin E2. CONCLUSIONS: The H3-L6 and H3 interventions altered bioactive mediators implicated in headache pathogenesis and decreased frequency and severity of headaches, but did not significantly improve quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02012790.

Identifying oxidized lipid mediators as prognostic biomarkers of chronic posttraumatic headache.

Chronic posttraumatic headache (PTH) is among the most common and disabling sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Current PTH treatments are often only partially effective and have problematic side effects. We previously showed in a small randomized trial of patients with chronic nontraumatic headaches that manipulation of dietary fatty acids decreased headache frequency, severity, and pain medication use. Pain reduction was associated with alterations in oxylipins derived from n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, suggesting that oxylipins could potentially mediate clinical pain reduction. The objective of this study was to investigate whether circulating oxylipins measured in the acute setting after TBI could serve as prognostic biomarkers for developing chronic PTH. Participants enrolled in the Traumatic Head Injury Neuroimaging Classification Protocol provided serum within 3 days of TBI and were followed up at 90 days postinjury with a neurobehavioral symptom inventory (NSI) and satisfaction with life survey. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods profiled 39 oxylipins derived from n-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and n-6 arachidonic acid and linoleic acid. Statistical analyses assessed the association of oxylipins with headache severity (primary outcome, measured by headache question on NSI) as well as associations between oxylipins and total NSI or satisfaction with life survey scores. Among oxylipins, 4-hydroxy-DHA and 19,20-epoxy-docosapentaenoate (DHA derivatives) were inversely associated with headache severity, and 11-hydroxy-9-epoxy-octadecenoate (a linoleic acid derivative) was positively associated with headache severity. These findings support a potential for DHA-derived oxylipins as prognostic biomarkers for development of chronic PTH.

The silent epidemic of chronic pain in older adults.

Chronic pain is highly prevalent among older adults where it is associated with significant suffering, disability, social isolation, and greater costs and burden to health care systems. Pharmaceutical treatment of chronic pain in older adults is usually only partially effective and is often limited by side effects including urinary retention, constipation, sedation, cognitive impairment, and increased risk of falls. Since older adults are underrepresented in clinical trials testing treatments for chronic pain, the potential impacts of polypharmacy and frailty on reported outcomes and side effect profiles are largely unknown. Thus, for current treatments, providers and patients must balance anticipated benefits of pain reduction with the known and unknown risks of treatment. Chronic pain is also a risk factor for premature death as well as accelerated cognitive decline, suggesting potential shared mechanisms between persistent pain (or its treatment) and dementia. Cognitive decline and dementia may also impact pain perception and the ability to report pain, complicating treatment decisions. Associations between persistent pain and the risks of premature death and accelerated cognitive decline make estimates for chronic pain in these populations particularly challenging. Future research is needed to improve estimates for chronic pain in older adults, to elucidate underlying mechanisms of pain with aging, and to develop and advance safer, more effective treatment options for chronic pain in older adults.

Bioactive Lipid Mediator Profiles in Human Psoriasis Skin and Blood.

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease that represents a unique model for investigating inflammation at local and systemic levels. Bioactive lipid mediators (LMs) are potent compounds reported to play a role in the development and resolution of inflammation. Currently, it is not known to what extent these LMs are involved in psoriasis pathophysiology and related metabolic dysfunction. Here, we use targeted and untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry approaches to quantify LMs in skin and peripheral blood from psoriasis patients and compared them with those of healthy individuals. Lesional psoriasis skin was abundant in arachidonic acid metabolites, as 8-, 12- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, compared with adjacent nonlesional and skin from healthy individuals. Additionally, a linoleic acid-derived LM, 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid, was significantly increased compared with healthy skin (607.9 ng/g vs. 5.4 ng/g, P = 0.001). These psoriasis skin differences were accompanied by plasma decreases in antioxidant markers, including glutathione, and impaired lipolysis characterized by lower concentrations of primary and secondary bile acids. In conclusion, our study shows that psoriasis skin and blood have disease-specific phenotype profiles of bioactive LMs represented by omega-6 fatty acid-oxidized derivatives. These findings provide insights into psoriasis pathophysiology that could potentially contribute to new biomarkers and therapeutics.

Quantitation of Human Whole-Body Synthesis-Secretion Rates of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoate Acid from Circulating Unesterified α-Linolenic Acid at Steady State.

The rate at which dietary α-linolenic acid (ALA) is desaturated and elongated to its longer-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in humans is not agreed upon. In this study, we applied a methodology developed using rodents to investigate the whole-body, presumably hepatic, synthesis-secretion rates of esterified n-3 PUFA from circulating unesterified ALA in 2 healthy overweight women after 10 weeks of low-linoleate diet exposure. During continuous iv infusion of d5-ALA, 17 arterial blood samples were collected from each subject at -10, 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 180, and 210 min, and at 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 h after beginning infusion. Plasma esterified d5-n-3 PUFA concentrations were plotted against the infusion time and fit to a sigmoidal curve using nonlinear regression. These curves were used to estimate kinetic parameters using a kinetic analysis developed using rodents. Calculated synthesis-secretion rates of esterified eicosapentaenoate, n-3 docosapentaenoate, docosahexaenoic acid, tetracosapentaenate, and tetracosahexaenoate from circulating unesterified ALA were 2.1 and 2.7; 1.7 and 5.3; 0.47 and 0.27; 0.30 and 0.30; and 0.32 and 0.27 mg/day for subjects S01 and S02, respectively. This study provides new estimates of whole-body synthesis-secretion rates of esterified longer-chain n-3 PUFA from circulating unesterified ALA in human subjects. This method now can be extended to study factors that regulate human whole-body PUFA synthesis-secretion in health and disease.