Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on leukocyte Th1/Th2 cytokine and integrin expression in rats with gut-derived sepsis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

This study examined the effect of fish oil (FO)-enriched diets before and/or omega-3 fatty acid-containing total parenteral nutrition (TPN) after sepsis on the distribution of the T-lymphocyte subpopulation, intracellular cytokine, and intestinal immunity in rats with gut-derived sepsis.

METHODS:

Rats were assigned to a control or one of four experimental groups. The control group and groups 1 and 2 were fed a semipurified diet, and groups 3 and 4 received FO instead of 20% soybean oil. After feeding the diets for 10 d, sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in the experimental groups, whereas a sham operation was performed in the control group. TPN was maintained for 3 d after the CLP or sham operation. The control group and groups 1 and 3 were infused with conventional TPN, whereas the TPN solution used for groups 2 and 4 were supplemented with FO. All rats were sacrificed 3 d after the operation to examine their immune responses.

RESULTS:

Plasma and intestinal immunoglobin A levels were higher in the FO-supplemented groups than in the control group and group 1. Lymphocyte interferon-gamma expression in groups 3 and 4 was significantly lower, whereas interleukin-4 expression was higher than those of the control group and groups 1 and 2. The splenocyte CD4 percentage in groups 3 and 4 and the CD4/CD8 ratio in group 4 were significantly higher than those in group 1.

CONCLUSION:

These findings suggest that FO administration before and/or after CLP are not immunosuppressive. FO-enriched diets before or before and after CLP resulted in a T-helper type 2 response and enhanced immunoglobulin A secretion. In addition, the splenocyte CD4 levels and CD4/CD8 ratio were maintained in rats with gut-derived sepsis.

• Authors: Ming-Tsan Lin, Chun-Sen Hsu, Sung-Ling Yeh, Chiu-Li Yeh, King-Jen Chang, Po-Huang Lee, Wei-Jao Chen
• Journal: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) (Nutrition) Vol. 23 Issue 2 Pg. 179-86 (Feb 2007) ISSN: 0899-9007 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17234509 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3
• Immunoglobulin A
• Integrins
• Interleukin-4
• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Animals
• CD4-CD8 Ratio
• Cytokines (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3 (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Immunoglobulin A (biosynthesis)
• Integrins (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Interferon-gamma (metabolism)
• Interleukin-4 (metabolism)
• Male
• Parenteral Nutrition, Total
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Sepsis (immunology, metabolism, therapy)
• Th1 Cells (metabolism)
• Th2 Cells (metabolism)