Dietary fat influences the expression of autoimmune disease in MRL/lpr/lpr mice.
Near-isocaloric diets with qualitative and quantitative differences in fat content have a profound influence on the manifestation and progression of the autoimmune syndrome that occurs in female MRL/lpr mice. In these animals, a high (9%) lipid intake resulted in a significantly higher mortality rate: 60% (saturated fat) and 75% (unsaturated fat) compared to 35% at 1 year for a group fed a diet low in fat. Furthermore, beginning at 7 months of age mice from both of the high fat diet groups exhibited a significantly higher incidence of proteinuria than mice in the low fat group. Immunologically, the group fed the high unsaturated fat diet had the highest incidence of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies, and the high saturated fat group had the poorest macrophage phagocytic function. The low fat diet preserved near 'normal' immune function in general, particularly IL-2 production. No significant differences were noted in either the production of rheumatoid factor or natural killer cell activity, irrespective of age or diet.
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004247:DNA; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011507:Proteinuria
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007376:Interleukin-2; D004247:DNA