Inhibition of natural killer cell activity by eicosapentaenoic acid in vivo and in vitro.
To examine the effects of in vivo eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on natural killer (NK) cell activity, C3H/He mice each received a single intraperitoneal bolus of an emulsion of trieicosapentaenoyl-glycerol (EPA-TG). Spleen cells were tested for NK activity using 51Chromium-release assays against YAC-1 target cells. Forty eight hours after injection, NK activity was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. EPA-TG emulsion also inhibited the NK activity of NK-enriched effector cells. Decreased cytotoxicity was first noted 24 hr after injection; it resumed the baseline by 7 days. The addition of EPA-TG emulsion to a cytotoxicity assay system resulted in moderate depression of NK activity. These results demonstrate that EPA has significant immunomodulatory effects on NK activity.
Yamashita
N
N
First Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Sugiyama
E
E
Hamazaki
T
T
Yano
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004655:Emulsions; D005260:Female; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000494:pharmacology
D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D004655:Emulsions; D014280:Triglycerides; C051339:1,2,3-trieicosapentaenoyl glycerol; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid