Studies on the Possible Regulatory Function of Dietary Alpha-Linolenic Acid in Prostaglandin Synthesis by Immunocompetent Cells

Alpha-linolenate (18:3(omega)3) and its elongated, desaturated metabolites are known to predominate in certain tissues. The role of essential fatty acid (EFA), and therefore of PGs, in cell-mediated immunity has increasingly become of interest. Prostaglandins have been implicated in many areas of the immune response. Three studies were conducted examining both in vivo and in vitro rat immune models to study the regulatory influence of 18:3(omega)3 in activities where PGs play a significant role. The first study demonstrated that feeding a 10% fat diet containing a 1:1 ratio of 18:3(omega)3 to linoleate (18:2(omega)6) significantly depressed spleen and thymus PG(,1+2) synthesizing capacities in the immunochallenged rat. A more severe experimental allergic encephalomyelitis clinical score was also observed by rats fed the high (alpha)-linolenate diet.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Food Science

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Marshall, Lisa Ann

• Health Sciences, Nutrition
• Health Sciences, Immunology

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8218519

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/77438