DHA inhibits protein degradation more efficiently than EPA by regulating the PPARγ/NFκB pathway in C2C12 myotubes.

This study was conducted to evaluate the mechanism by which n-3 PUFA regulated the protein degradation in C2C12 myotubes. Compared with the BSA control, EPA at concentrations from 400 to 600 µM decreased total protein degradation (P < 0.01). However, the total protein degradation was decreased when the concentrations of DHA ranged from 300 µM to 700 µM (P < 0.01). DHA (400 µM, 24 h) more efficiently decreased the I κ B α phosphorylation and increased in the I κ B α protein level than 400 µM EPA (P < 0.01). Compared with BSA, 400 µM EPA and DHA resulted in a 47% or 68% induction of the NF κ B DNA binding activity, respectively (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, 400 µM EPA and DHA resulted in a 1.3-fold and 2.0-fold induction of the PPAR γ expression, respectively (P < 0.01). In C2C12 myotubes for PPAR γ knockdown, neither 400 µM EPA nor DHA affected the levels of p-I κ B α , total I κ B α or NF κ B DNA binding activity compared with BSA (P > 0.05). Interestingly, EPA and DHA both still decreased the total protein degradation, although PPAR γ knockdown attenuated the suppressive effects of EPA and DHA on the total protein degradation (P < 0.01). These results revealed that DHA inhibits protein degradation more efficiently than EPA by regulating the PPAR γ /NF- κ B pathway in C2C12 myotubes.