Long-term n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids administration ameliorates arteriosclerosis by modulating T-cell activity in a rat model of small intestine transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Fish oil, rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), has been found to reduce graft rejection and increase allografts survival. But these studies mainly focused on acute rejection. We imitated long-term fish oil administration to investigate the effects of n-3 PUFAs on graft arteriosclerosis, and T cells in a rat model of small intestine transplantation.


METHODS
From 2 weeks pre-transplantation to the 60th day post-transplantation, the Lewis rats were supplemented by gavage with phosphate buffer saline, corn oil and fish oil respectively. Total small intestine was heterotopically transplanted from F344 to Lewis rat. Graft arteriosclerosis was assessed by histological grading of intimal thickening. The expression of CD25 and CD154, IL-2 level, and NF-kappaB activation in T cells were analyzed by western blotting, ELISA, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay respectively.


RESULTS
Compared with corn oil, graft arteriosclerosis was ameliorated by fish oil significantly. The expression of CD25 and CD154, IL-2 level, and NF-kappaB activation were markedly reduced by fish oil.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term n-3 PUFAs administration pre- and post-transplantation could inhibit T-cell activity by reducing CD154 expression and NF-kappaB activation, which might contribute to amelioration of graft arteriosclerosis.
Wang
Jinhua
J
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, PR China.
Ma
Hao
H
Wang
Jian
J
Li
Qiurong
Q
Li
Yousheng
Y
Li
Jieshou
J
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D001711:Biotransformation / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002469:Cell Separation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*
D016207:Cytokines; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D016328:NF-kappa B; D023201:CD40 Ligand