title: Cytokine levels affected by gamma-linolenic acid.
abstract: This study was undertaken to assess whether gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in the form of evening primrose oil (EPO) could affect rat serum cytokines, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The following diets were administered: control, glucan, Freund's adjuvant and glucan plus Freund's adjuvant with and without GLA. In the presence of GLA, the IFN-gamma and MCP-1 levels were significantly decreased in contrast to the control group of TNF-alpha, which was significantly stimulated. On account of interaction between diets and GLA, the remaining diet groups of TNF-alpha were either not affected or were inhibited in the presence of GLA. The observations indicate that GLA may modulate the level of serum IFN-gamma, MCP-1 and TNF-alpha, which may be a worthwhile line of treatment in certain human diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dirks
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: van Aswegen
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: du Plessis
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008297:Male; D031665:Oenothera biennis; D010938:Plant Oils; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016207:Cytokines; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D010938:Plant Oils; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C028498:evening primrose oil; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; D007371:Interferon-gamma