Polyunsaturated fatty acids and immune cell functions

In MS patients there was a significantly positive relationship between membrane AA and TGF-ß1 indicating that it is the individual long chain (LC) PUFA, i.e. AA that regulate the levels of TGF-ß1. Investigation of the effects of n-6 and n-3 PUFAs on normal healthy PBMC production of TGF-ß1 in vitro showed that PBMC in the presence of phytohaemaglutinin (PHA) supplemented with LA, dihyomo-?-linolenic (DGLA) and arachidonic acid (AA) significantly increase TGF-ß1 compared with non-supplemented PHA-stimulated PBMCs. In contrast, TGF-ß1 levels from PHA-stimulated PBMCs supplemented with a-linolenic (ALA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were significantly decreased suggesting that n-6 fatty acids (LA, DGLA and AA) increase in vitro TGF-ß1 production by PHA-stimulated PBMCs and, in contrast, n-3 fatty acids (ALA, EPA and DHA) decrease TGF-ß1 production. GLA-rich borage oil supplementation resulted in significantly decreased ex vivo monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1a (MIP-1a) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) production from PHA-or LPS-stimulated PBMC compared with baseline. It also significantly decreased cell surface expression of CD36+, CD54+ and CD62L+ on monocytes. In contrast, there was no association between LA-rich corn oil and these adhesion molecules and chemokines suggesting that GLA and/or its metabolites are affecting the chemokines and adhesion molecules studied. Overall, results of this study indicate that n-6 long chain PUFAs may have anti-inflammatory properties and might therefore be beneficial in multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis and other inflammatory diseases.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Greenwich

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Pinto, Eva

• QD Chemistry
• QH Natural history