Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on leukocyte Th1/Th2 cytokine and integrin expression in rats with gut-derived sepsis.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effect of fish oil (FO)-enriched diets before and/or omega-3 fatty acid-containing total parenteral nutrition (TPN) after sepsis on the distribution of the T-lymphocyte subpopulation, intracellular cytokine, and intestinal immunity in rats with gut-derived sepsis.


METHODS
Rats were assigned to a control or one of four experimental groups. The control group and groups 1 and 2 were fed a semipurified diet, and groups 3 and 4 received FO instead of 20% soybean oil. After feeding the diets for 10 d, sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in the experimental groups, whereas a sham operation was performed in the control group. TPN was maintained for 3 d after the CLP or sham operation. The control group and groups 1 and 3 were infused with conventional TPN, whereas the TPN solution used for groups 2 and 4 were supplemented with FO. All rats were sacrificed 3 d after the operation to examine their immune responses.


RESULTS
Plasma and intestinal immunoglobin A levels were higher in the FO-supplemented groups than in the control group and group 1. Lymphocyte interferon-gamma expression in groups 3 and 4 was significantly lower, whereas interleukin-4 expression was higher than those of the control group and groups 1 and 2. The splenocyte CD4 percentage in groups 3 and 4 and the CD4/CD8 ratio in group 4 were significantly higher than those in group 1.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that FO administration before and/or after CLP are not immunosuppressive. FO-enriched diets before or before and after CLP resulted in a T-helper type 2 response and enhanced immunoglobulin A secretion. In addition, the splenocyte CD4 levels and CD4/CD8 ratio were maintained in rats with gut-derived sepsis.
Lin
Ming-Tsan
MT
Department of Primary Care Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsu
Chun-Sen
CS
Yeh
Sung-Ling
SL
Yeh
Chiu-Li
CL
Chang
King-Jen
KJ
Lee
Po-Huang
PH
Chen
Wei-Jao
WJ
D000818:Animals; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016023:Integrins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D016023:Integrins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma