Wallace FA ; Miles EA ; Evans C ; Stock TE ; Yaqoob P ; Calder PC ;

J Leukoc Biol vol. 69 (3)   pp. 449-57, Mar 2001

Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Southampton, United Kingdom.

C57B16 mice were fed for 6 weeks on a low-fat diet or on high-fat diets containing coconut oil (rich in saturated fatty acids), safflower oil [rich in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)], or fish oil (rich in n-3 PUFAs) as the main fat sources. The fatty acid composition of the spleen lymphocytes was influenced by that of the diet fed. Thymidine incorporation into concanavalin A-stimulated spleen lymphocytes and interleukin (IL)-2 production were highest after feeding the coconut oil diet. Interferon (IFN)-gamma production was decreased by safflower oil or fish oil feeding. IL-4 production was not significantly affected by diet, although production was lowest by lymphocytes from fish oil- fed mice. The ratio of production of Th1- to Th2-type cytokines (determined as the IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio) was lower for lymphocytes from mice fed the safflower oil or fish oil diets. After 4 h of culture, IL- 2 mRNA levels were higher in cells from mice fed coconut oil, and IFN- gamma mRNA levels were higher in cells from mice fed coconut oil or safflower oil. After 8 h of culture, IL-2, IFN-gamma, and IL-4 mRNA levels were lowest in cells from mice fed fish oil. The ratio of the relative levels of IFN-gamma mRNA to IL-4 mRNA was highest in cells from mice fed coconut oil and was lowest in cells of mice fed fish oil. The influence of individual fatty acids on IL-2 production by murine spleen lymphocytes was examined in vitro. Although all fatty acids decreased IL-2 production in a concentration-dependent manner, saturated fatty acids were the least potent and n-3 PUFAs the most potent inhibitors, with n-6 PUFAs falling in between in terms of potency. It is concluded that saturated fatty acids have minimal effects on cytokine production. In contrast, PUFAs act to inhibit production of Th1-type cytokines with little effect on Th2-type cytokines; n-3 PUFAs are particularly potent. The effects of fatty acids on cytokine production appear to be exerted at the level of gene expression.

Animal ;  Comparative Study ;  Concanavalin A: pharmacology ;  Dietary Fats: pharmacology ;  Fish Oils: pharmacology ;  Interferon Type II: biosynthesis: genetics ;  Interleukin-2: biosynthesis: genetics ;  Interleukin-4: biosynthesis: genetics ;  Lymphocyte Transformation: drug effects ;  Lymphocytes: drug effects: immunology: metabolism ;  Male ;  Mice ;  Mice,Inbred C57BL ;  Plant Oils: pharmacology ;  RNA,Messenger: biosynthesis: genetics: metabolism ;  Safflower Oil: pharmacology ;  Spleen: cytology: drug effects: metabolism ;  Support,Non-U.S.Gov't ;  Th1 Cells: immunology: metabolism ;  Th2 Cells: immunology: metabolism ;  12300 ;