DHA Boosts Nerve Stem Cell Activity

Byron's Comments:

The new science is showing that nerve cells need DHA in order to regulate proper gene activity involved with healthy nerve growth and development.

Study Title:

Long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate membrane phospholipid composition and protein localization in lipid rafts of neural stem cell cultures.

Study Abstract:

Rat neural stem cells/neural progenitors (NSC/NP) are generally grown in serum-free medium. In this study, NSC/NP were supplemented with the main long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) present in the brain, arachidonic acid (AA), or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and were monitored for their growth. Lipid and fatty acid contents of the cells were also determined. Under standard conditions, the cells were characterized by phospholipids displaying a highly saturated profile, and very low levels of PUFAs. When cultured in the presence of PUFAs, the cells easily incorporated them into the phospholipid fraction. We also compared the presence of three membrane proteins in the lipid raft fractions: GFR and connexin 43 contents in the rafts were increased by DHA supplementation, whereas Gbeta subunit content was not significantly modified. The restoration of DHA levels in the phospholipids could profoundly affect protein localization and, consequently, their functionalities.

Study Information:

Langelier B, Linard A, Bordat C, Lavialle M, Heberden C. Long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate membrane phospholipid composition and protein localization in lipid rafts of neural stem cell cultures. J Cell Biochem  2010 June  
INRA-Laboratoire de Nutrition et Régulations Lipidiques des Fonctions Cérébrales, UR909, F-78352 Jouy en Josas, France.

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