Immunomodulation by fish-oil containing lipid emulsions in murine acute respiratory distress syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major cause of mortality in intensive care units. Patients with ARDS often require parenteral nutrition with lipid emulsions as essential components. Besides being an energy supply, these lipid emulsions might display differential modulatory effects on lung integrity and inflammation.


METHODS
In a pre-emptive strategy, we investigated the impact of three different intravenously infused lipid emulsions on lung morphology, leukocyte invasion, protein leakage and cytokines in a murine model of ARDS. Mice received an infusion of normal saline solution, a pure long-chain triglycerides (LCT) emulsion, a medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) containing mixed emulsion (LCT/MCT), or a fish oil (FO) containing mixed emulsion (LCT/MCT/FO) before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.


RESULTS
Mice pre-infused with fish oil-containing lipid emulsion showed decreased leukocyte invasion, protein leakage, myeloperoxidase activity, and cytokine production in their alveolar space after LPS challenge compared to mice receiving LCT or LCT/MCT. In line with these findings, lung morphology assessed by histological staining after LPS-induced lung injury improved faster in the LCT/MCT/FO group. Concerning the above mentioned parameters, no significant difference was observed between mice infused with LCT or the combination of LCT and MCT.


CONCLUSIONS
Fish oil-containing lipid emulsions might exert anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving effects in the murine model of acute lung injury. Partial replacement of n-6 fatty acids with n-3 fatty acids may thus be of benefit for critically ill patients at risk for ARDS which require parenteral nutrition.
Matthias
M
Hecker
Juliane
J
Ott
Christoph
C
Sondermann
Martina
M
Schaefer
Martin
M
Obert
Andreas
A
Hecker
Rory E
RE
Morty
Istvan
I
Vadasz
Susanne
S
Herold
Bernhard
B
Rosengarten
Martin
M
Witzenrath
Werner
W
Seeger
Konstantin
K
Mayer
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D005395:Fish Oils