title: Dietary fatty acids affect the immune system in male mice sensitized to ovalbumin or vaccinated with influenza.
abstract: PUFA are precursor molecules for eicosanoids such as leukotrienes and prostaglandins and may influence immune function through other mechanisms involving membranes, cell signaling, and gene expression. Immune-modulating properties of diets containing different oils [sunflower oil, rich in linoleic acid; linseed oil, rich in α-linolenic acid; salmon oil, rich in marine (n-3) PUFA; and beef tallow, rich in SFA] were investigated in an influenza-vaccination model, in which the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response was studied in C57BL/6 mice, and an ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitization model for experimental allergy in BALB/c mice. Six-week-old mice were fed the different diets for 7 wk. The first vaccination or OVA sensitization was given 2 wk after the start of the dietary intervention. In the mice vaccinated with influenza, the DTH response to the vaccine was significantly higher in mice fed the marine (n-3) PUFA diet compared to all other groups, indicating that these PUFA promote a T helper-1 response. In the OVA-sensitized mice, those fed the marine (n-3) PUFA diet had a less severe acute allergic skin response (ASR), suggesting that (n-3) PUFA lessen the T helper-2 response. Mice fed the SFA-rich diet had the most severe ASR, indicating that a diet with high levels of SFA may contribute to increased severity of allergic symptoms. Whereas significant differences in in vivo immune responses were measured, in vitro responses did not differ among the dietary groups. In conclusion, using 2 different models of immune responses demonstrates potential benefits from marine (n-3) PUFA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584CG, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hogenkamp
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Vlies
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fear
authors.forename: Betty C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: van Esch
authors.forename: Gerard A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garssen
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Calder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D010047:Ovalbumin