DHA and EPA are Able to Affect the Development of Stress-Induced Senescence

Omega-3 fatty acids are an important part of biological membranes affecting their properties, cell signaling and gene expression. Senescence is an irreversible permanent cell cycle arrest accompanied by changes in cell morphology and physiology. We hypothesized that DHA as well as EPA could suppress the development of stress-induced premature senescence. To induce senescence, MRC-5 human lung fibroblasts were incubated with 100μM hydrogen peroxide/1hour. DHA (10 and 20 μM) or EPA (10, 20, 30 and 40 μM) were added to the cells for 24 hours either before (pretreatment) or after (postreatment) the induction of senescence. Only after postreatment with 10μM DHA or 20μM EPA, we detected slightly improved hallmarks of senescence - decreased percentage of SA-β-galactosidase positive cells, increased cell growth, reduced level of reactive oxygen species, cell cycle progression and decreased p21 protein expression. Based on our results we can conclude that DHA as well as EPA affect the development of peroxide induced senescence.