Fatty acids are key elements in the regulation of cell metabolism and survival, and more recently they have been involved also in the regulation of macrophage activation, and their transition between the pro-inflammatory and the antinflammatory state (M1 and M2). Inflammation and the persistency of macrophages in their M1 pro-inflammatory state strongly participate to the development and progression of many diseases, including those involving the retina and the optic nerve. More specifically, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and neuritis of the optic nerve are characterized by inflammation, gliosis and infiltration of activated macrophages, finally leading to irreversible injuries of the visual system. These events can be recapitulated by mouse models, either subretinally injected with PEG-400 (AMD), or treated by intraperitoneal injection of the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) (optic neuritis). We present here data showing that treatment of these animals by oral administration of two different fatty acids-based food supplements (Macular-FAG® in the case of AMD, and Neuro-FAG® in the case of optic neuritis), mitigates the inflammatory response in the retina of pathological animals, and also improves their electrophysiological response to light stimulation.
