Changes in the immune functions and susceptibility to Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice fed dietary lipids.
The direct examination of the effects that fish oil diets (composed of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) exert on immune system function indicates a reduction of host natural resistance to infectious diseases mainly because of a suppression of immune function generated by the fatty acids contained in this diet. Here, we evaluated the concentration of IL-12, IL-4, prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 in the serum from BALB/c mice receiving four different diets. Each group was fed a diet that differed only in the source of fat: a low-fat diet (2.5% by weight), an olive oil diet (20% by weight), a fish oil diet (20% by weight) or a hydrogenated coconut oil diet (20% by weight). Mice were fed for 4 weeks and then infected with the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. An initial reduction in the Th1-type response as a result of a decrease in IL-12p70 secretion, an inefficient action of IL-4 (Th2-type response) and no modification of pro-inflammatory lipid-mediator production could be, at least in part, the key events responsible for the inadequate elimination of L. monocytogenes from the spleens of mice fed a fish oil diet. Furthermore, our results suggest that the type of dietary lipids may affect the circulating concentration of IL-12p70 and IL-4, leading to a modulation in the protective cellular immune response to L. monocytogenes infection.
Unit of Microbiology, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, Spain.
María A
MA
Puertollano
Elena
E
Puertollano
Alfonso
A
Ruiz-Bravo
María
M
Jiménez-Valera
Manuel A
MA
De Pablo
Gerardo Alvarez
GA
De Cienfuegos
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000097:blood; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D000069463:Olive Oil; D009929:Organ Size; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013154:Spleen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology
D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D021122:Protein Subunits; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D015847:Interleukin-4; D015232:Dinoprostone; D000074263:Coconut Oil