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The addition of docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid to the diet of artificially reared pups improves the response of splenocytes to lipopolysaccharide
Author(s) -
Goruk Susan,
Hoedl Abha,
Lau Jenny,
Bell Rhonda C,
Field Catherine J
Publication year - 2008
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.22.1_supplement.1098.2
Subject(s) - docosahexaenoic acid , polyunsaturated fatty acid , arachidonic acid , lipopolysaccharide , splenocyte , immune system , spleen , endocrinology , medicine , eicosapentaenoic acid , biology , weaning , stimulation , fatty acid , immunology , biochemistry , enzyme
Immune cells from infants are reported to have a lower cytokine (IFNγ) response to bacterial antigens such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which may contribute to their higher susceptibility to infections. Recently, it was reported that the addition of the long chain polyunsaturated fats (PUFA), docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (ARA) acid to infant formula reduced the risk of infections. Using the artificially reared rodent model, we studied the effect of feeding isocaloric nutritionally adequate rat milk substitute with or without long chain PUFA (0.24% DHA + 0.36% AA) for one week (12–21 d of age). Both groups of rats grew similar to suckled pups and there was no difference in body or spleen weight. Except for a higher (P<0.05) proportion of dendritic cells (OX62+) in PUFA‐fed rats, supplementation with PUFA had minimal effects on the major lymphocyte phenotypes in spleen. After ex vivo LPS stimulation (48h), isolated splenocytes from the PUFA‐fed rats produced more IL‐1β (1.4X) and IFNγ (1.9X) than those from the control group (P<0.05). These results suggest that adding DHA and AA to the diet of formula‐fed rats significantly improved the immune response to LPS. Funded by NSERC.