Associations of cord blood fatty acids with lymphocyte proliferation, IL-13, and IFN-gamma.
BACKGROUND
N-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been hypothesized to have opposing influences on neonatal immune responses that might influence the risk of allergy or asthma. However, both n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and n-6 arachidonic acid (AA) are required for normal fetal development.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated whether cord blood fatty acid levels were related to neonatal immune responses and whether n-3 and n-6 PUFA responses differed.


METHODS
We examined the relation of cord blood plasma n-3 and n-6 PUFAs (n = 192) to antigen- and mitogen-stimulated cord blood lymphocyte proliferation (n = 191) and cytokine (IL-13 and IFN-gamma; n = 167) secretion in a US birth cohort.


RESULTS
Higher levels of n-6 linoleic acid were correlated with higher IL-13 levels in response to Bla g 2 (cockroach, P = .009) and Der f 1 (dust mite, P = .02). Higher n-3 EPA and n-6 AA levels were each correlated with reduced lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-gamma levels in response to Bla g 2 and Der f 1 stimulation. Controlling for potential confounders, EPA and AA had similar independent effects on reduced allergen-stimulated IFN-gamma levels. If neonates had either EPA or AA levels in the highest quartile, their Der f 1 IFN-gamma levels were 90% lower (P = .0001) than those with both EPA and AA levels in the lowest 3 quartiles. Reduced AA/EPA ratio was associated with reduced allergen-stimulated IFN-gamma level.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased levels of fetal n-3 EPA and n-6 AA might have similar effects on attenuation of cord blood lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-gamma secretion.


CONCLUSIONS
The implications of these findings for allergy or asthma development are not yet known.
Gold
Diane R
DR
Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. diane.gold@channing.harvard.edu
Willwerth
Ben M
BM
Tantisira
Kelan G
KG
Finn
Patricia W
PW
Schaub
Bianca
B
Perkins
David L
DL
Tzianabos
Arthur
A
Ly
Ngoc P
NP
Schroeter
Christian
C
Gibbons
Fiona
F
Campos
Hannia
H
Oken
Emily
E
Gillman
Matthew W
MW
Palmer
Lyle J
LJ
Ryan
Louise M
LM
Weiss
Scott T
ST
D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male
D000485:Allergens; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D018793:Interleukin-13; D007371:Interferon-gamma