Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids play roles in skeletal muscle-adipose tissue crosstalk through myokines

Abstract Skeletal muscle-adipose tissue crosstalk is important for maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Myokines play an indispensable role in the skeletal muscle-adipose tissue crosstalk. This study was conducted to elucidate the association between Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) and myokine in vitro and figure out the role of n-3 PUFAs in the skeletal muscle-adipose tissue crosstalk. As result, different forms of n-3 PUFAs increased the expression of multiple myokines in C2C12 myotubes. The expression of p-AMPK and PGC-1α in C2C12 myotubes were up-regulated by DHA/EPA mixture. The culture supernatant of myotube cells incubated with the DHA/EPA mixture regulated the lipid metabolism-related genes and stimulated browning in adipocytes. Therefore, n-3 PUFAs play roles in the skeletal muscle-adipose tissue crosstalk by regulating the expression and release of myokines associated with lipid metabolism and browning. Part of the mechanism of this process should be attributed to n-3 PUFAs activating AMPK signaling in C2C12 myotube.