Beneficial effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases are known, and platelets play a crucial role in cardiovascular complications. However, high doses of DHA may increase lipid peroxidation and induce deleterious effects, notably in platelets. This led us to investigate the effect of DHA on gene expression of some enzymes controlling redox status and prostanoid formation in human megakaryoblastic cells (MEG-01 cell line). MEG-01 cells were incubated in presence of DHA (10 and 100 mu mol/L) for 6 h. DHA enrichment up-regulated glutathione peroxidase-1 and thromboxane synthase mRNA. DHA increased gene catalase expression and up-regulated PPAR beta/delta and PPAR gamma mRNA in presence of high concentration of DHA. In conclusion, Our results support an antioxidant mechanism of DHA. The effects of DHA on cellular redox status could, with others, provide an explanation for the beneficial influence of low consumption of DHA on cardiovascular events. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.