Association between very long chain fatty acids in the meibomian gland and dry eye resulting from n-3 fatty acid deficiency

• Published in: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and essential fatty acids Vol. 97; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Hideko, Harauma, Akiko, Takimoto, Mao, Moriguchi, Toru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2015
• Subjects: 4,4-dimethyloxazoline; Advanced Basic Science; Animals; Branched chain fatty acid; Chromatography, Gas; Docosahexaenoic Acids - deficiency; Dry Eye Syndromes - metabolism; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Fatty Acids - chemistry; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; GC–MS; Male; Meibomian gland; Meibomian Glands - chemistry; Mice, Inbred ICR; Picolinyl ester; Tears - chemistry; Very long chain fatty acid; 4, 4-dimethyloxazoline; TLC; n-3 Def; gas chromatography; thin-layer chromatography; Meibomian gland; branched chain fatty acids; fatty acid methyl esters; DMOX; docosahexaenoic acid; n-3 Adq; mass spectrometry; GC; 4,4-dimethyloxazoline; n-3 fatty acid adequacy; GC–MS; VLCFAs; very long chain fatty acids; MS; n-3 fatty acid deficiency; Branched chain fatty acid; Very long chain fatty acid; BCFAs; FAMEs; DHA; Picolinyl ester
• ISSN: 0952-3278; 1532-2823
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2015.02.004

Abstract In our previously study, we reported lower tear volume in with an n-3 fatty acid deficient mice and that the docosahexaenoic acid and total n-3 fatty acid levels in these mice are significantly reduced in the meibomian gland, which secretes an oily tear product. Furthermore, we noted very long chain fatty acids (≥25 carbons) in the meibomian gland. To verify the detailed mechanism of the low tear volume in the n-3 fatty acid-deficient mice, we identified the very long chain fatty acids in the meibomian gland, measured the fatty acid composition in the tear product. Very long chain fatty acids were found to exist as monoesters. In particular, very long chain fatty acids with 25–29 carbons existed for the most part as iso or anteiso branched-chain fatty acids. n-3 fatty acid deficiency was decreased the amount of meibum secretion from meibomian gland without change of fatty acid composition. These results suggest that the n-3 fatty acid deficiency causes the enhancement of evaporation of tear film by reducing oily tear secretion along with the decrease of meibomian gland function.