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The Effects of Fatty Acids on Brain Microglia Immune Responses
Author(s) -
Lowry Jessica R.,
Klegeris Andis
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.813.2
Subject(s) - microglia , immune system , lipopolysaccharide , inflammation , secretion , immunology , biology , medicine , endocrinology
BACKGROUND In 2018, the estimated global cost of health care for patients with dementia is expected to be over 1 trillion dollars (United States currency). Dementia in many cases is caused by Alzheimer's disease (AD), for which no viable treatment currently exists. Some significant risks in the development of AD are preventable, including diet‐related factors. One important diet‐related factor, dietary fats, is involved in key cellular processes. However, there is limited research on the role of dietary fats in the regulation of inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS). Non‐neuronal cells called microglia regulate the immune status of the CNS, and their dysregulated responses can lead to the enhanced release of cytotoxic mediators. These microglia‐released mediators can cause extensive neuron death, which is observed in AD. Metabolites of alpha‐linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) are well‐known for modulating peripheral and CNS inflammation. However, the effects of ALA and LA on microglia are unknown. OBJECTIVES Assess whether ALA and LA affect microglial immune responses. METHODS BV‐2 microglia cells were treated with ALA or LA for 24 h, followed by pro‐inflammatory stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h. Microglial supernatants and total protein from lysed BV‐2 cells were collected. The supernatants were used to quantify the secretion of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) by BV‐2 cells. Proteins were used to quantify the production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by western blotting. RESULTS Both ALA and LA significantly reduced RNS secretion by LPS‐stimulated BV‐2 microglia. LA, but not ALA, significantly reduced iNOS levels in LPS‐stimulated microglia. Data were analyzed using the randomized block design analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Dunnett's post‐hoc test. CONCLUSIONS Dietary fatty acids can modulate select microglial immune responses, and should be further investigated for their roles in CNS inflammation, which is involved in the progression of AD. Support or Funding Information Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, The Jack Brown and Family Alzheimer's Disease Research Foundation This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .