Inhibition of Cytokine Signaling in Human Retinal Endothelial Cells through Downregulation of Sphingomyelinases by Docosahexaenoic Acid

Abstract

This study provides a novel potential mechanism for the anti-inflammatory effect of DHA in HRECs. DHA downregulates the basal and cytokine-induced ASMase and NSMase expression and activity level in HRECs, and inhibition of sphingomyelinases in endothelial cells prevents cytokine-induced inflammatory response.