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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Oct 1.
Published in final edited form as: Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2010 Oct–Dec;83(4-6):185–191. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2010.08.004

Figure 5.

Figure 5

Diagram illustrating proposed pro-inflammatory signaling events resulting from n-3 fatty acid deficiency. According to this model, n-3 fatty acid deficiency up-regulates liver delta6-desaturase activity, and increases n-6 fatty acid biosynthesis (18:2→18:3, 18:2→20:4) and membrane AA (20:4) composition. Increased AA availability and mobilization via phospholipase A2 (PLA2) augments AA→PGE2 production via cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and increases PGE2→IL-6 production. Increased IL-6→CRP production contribute to cardiovascular-related pathology and IL-6→5-HT turnover contribute to depressed mood in MDD patients.