N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Stimulate Bile Acid Detoxification in Human Cell Models

Figure 4

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce the bile acid- (BA-) dependent activation of the caspase 3 activity in HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were cultured in the presence of DMSO (vehicle, 0.1% v/v), 25, or 50 μM eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and/or docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids for 24 H and exposed to a bile acid (BA) mixture consisting of CDCA, CA, DCA, and LCA, 100 μM each, for 2 H. The caspase-3 activity was determined as indicated in the materials and methods section. The results (mean ± SD) are representative of two independent experiments performed in triplicates. Statistical differences between two groups were analyzed using unpaired two-side t-test versus vehicle () or BAs (ǂ) ().