title: Combined fish oil and astaxanthin supplementation modulates rat lymphocyte function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Higher intakes of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids that are abundant in marine fishes have been long described as a "good nutritional intervention" with increasing clinical benefits to cardiovascular health, inflammation, mental, and neurodegenerative diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of daily fish oil (FO-10 mg EPA/kg body weight (BW) and 7 mg DHA/kg BW) intake by oral gavage associated with the antioxidant astaxanthin (ASTA-1 mg/kg BW) on the redox metabolism and the functional properties of lymphocytes from rat lymph nodes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted by measurements of lymphocyte proliferation capacity, ROS production [superoxide (O₂(•-)) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)], nitric oxide (NO(•)) generation, intracellular calcium release, oxidative damage to lipids and proteins, activities of major antioxidant enzymes, GSH/GSSG content, and cytokines release.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 45 days of FO + ASTA supplementation, the proliferation capacity of activated T- and B-lymphocytes was significantly diminished followed by lower levels of O₂(•-), H₂O₂ and NO(•) production, and increased activities of total/SOD, GR and GPx, and calcium release in cytosol. ASTA was able to prevent oxidative modification in cell structures through the suppression of the oxidative stress condition imposed by FO. L: -selectin was increased by FO, and IL-1β was decreased only by ASTA supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We can propose that association of ASTA with FO could be a good strategy to prevent oxidative stress induced by polyunsaturated fatty acids and also to potentiate immuno-modulatory effects of FO.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program, Health Sciences, CBS, Cruzeiro do Sul University, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. rosemari.otton@cruzeirodosul.edu.br
authors.forename: Rosemari
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Otton
authors.forename: Douglas Popp
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Anaysa Paola
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Bolin
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Cássia Santos Macedo
authors.forename: Thais Regina
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Campoio
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fineto
authors.forename: Beatriz Alves
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Marcelo Paes
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D056747:Immunomodulation; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D005395:Fish Oils; D008934:Mitogens; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D024341:Xanthophylls; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C005948:astaxanthine; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D005978:Glutathione