title: N-3 fatty acids modulate Th1 and Th2 dichotomy in diabetic pregnancy and macrosomia.
abstract: We assessed the implication of Th (helper)-cells and the modulation of the Th1/Th2 dichotomy by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in type I diabetic pregnancy (DP) and macrosomia. Female gestant rats fed a standard diet or n-3 PUFA regimen were rendered diabetic by administration of five low doses of streptozotocin. The macrosomic (MAC) offspring were sacrificed at the age of 90 days. The mRNAs of IL-2 and IFN-gamma (Th1 cytokines) and IL-4 (Th2 cytokine) were downregulated in the pancreas and spleen of diabetic pregnant rats. The levels of IL-10 mRNA, another Th2 cytokine, were unchanged in the spleen or upregulated in the pancreas of these animals. Feeding an n-3 PUFA diet to rats with DP upregulated IL-10 mRNA in the pancreas and IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA in the spleen. In MAC offspring, high expression of IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNA, but not of Th2 cytokines, was observed. The n-3 PUFA diet diminished Th1 mRNA quantities and increased the levels of IL-4, but not of IL-10, mRNA in MAC offspring. Our study shows that DP is associated with a decreased Th1 phenotype and IL-4 mRNA expression in the pancreas and spleen, and an n-3 PUFA diet upregulates Th2 profile. In MAC offspring, the Th1 phenotype is upregulated and an n-3 PUFA diet downregulates this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, UPRES Lipides & Nutrition, Université de Bourgogne, Faculté des Sciences de la vie, Dijon, France. naim.khan@u-bourgogne.fr
authors.forename: Naim Akhtar
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Akadiri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yessoufou
authors.forename: Minji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hichami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D004032:Diet; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002784:Cholesterol