title: Influence of conjugated linoleic acid on the porcine immune response and morbidity: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has diverse influences on the immune response in different experimental models. In the present study we investigated the effect of CLA feeding on inflammatory and immune responses in a piglet model. We studied the duration of this effect and possible detrimental effects of CLA feeding. After 12 weeks of CLA and control supplementation and washout, animals were sacrificed and parenchymal organs were histologically examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In activated peripheral mononuclear cells interferon-gamma was significantly (p = 0.008) lower in the CLA group by the end of the feeding period. This effect disappeared as soon as supplementation was stopped. No differences were found in the tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-10 production, serum immunoglobulin-G levels and fat infiltration of the liver, except that fat storage cell infiltration was significantly (p < 0.04) higher in the CLA-fed group. The effect of time for interferon-gamma, interleukin-10 and immunoglobulin-G levels was statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the end of the feeding period the interferon-gamma response was depressed. However, the maturation of the piglet immune system in our young pig model probably outweighs the impact of CLA feeding on the immune response, even though liver fat storage cell infiltration, which plays an important role in liver regeneration, increased during CLA feeding of the piglets.
authors: University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. tomaz.malovrh@gmail.com
authors: Tomaz
authors: T
authors: Malovrh
authors: Lidija
authors: L
authors: Kompan
authors: Polona
authors: P
authors: Juntes
authors: Branka
authors: B
authors: Wraber
authors: Alenka
authors: A
authors: Spindler-Vesel
authors: Drago
authors: D
authors: Kompan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D044243:Linoleic Acids, Conjugated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D023421:Models, Animal; D009017:Morbidity; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D044243:Linoleic Acids, Conjugated; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma