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Piglets fed a weaning diet containing small amounts of arachidonic acid and docosahexaneoic acids have a lower proliferative response to dietary protein ex vivo compared to controls
Author(s) -
Hosea Heather Joy,
Goruk Susan D,
Eklund Meike,
Mosenthin Rainer,
Christopherson Robert J,
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.450.3
Subject(s) - polyunsaturated fatty acid , immune system , weaning , arachidonic acid , endocrinology , medicine , biology , eicosapentaenoic acid , docosahexaenoic acid , cytokine , pokeweed mitogen , fatty acid , immunology , biochemistry , in vitro , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , enzyme
A growing body of evidence supports the inclusion of long chain polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) in infant formula. Their effects on immune function in weanlings are not known. This study measured the effects of PUFA in the weaning diet on phenotype, proliferation and cytokine production to a T/B cell mitogen (pokeweed), and two dietary proteins (ovalbumin and soy). At 21d of age, piglets (n=10/group) were randomized to a nutritionally complete control diet (15% w/w fat) or a diet with added arachidonic acid (AA, 0.6%)/docosahexaneoic acid (DHA , 0.4%) or DHA supplement (0.2%AA, 2% DHA, 0.3% eicosapentaenoic acid) for 14d. Proliferation (rate of 3 H‐thymidine uptake), cytokine production (IL2, IL10, IFNg, TNFa, TGFb) and phenotype of mesenteric lymphocytes did not differ among diets. Although there was no effect on the response to pokeweed in Peyer's patch cells (PPc), AA/DHA PPc proliferated less (P<0.05) in response to dietary proteins compared to control. There was no effect of the DHA supplement diet on immune response or immune cell phenotype compared to control. In summary, these results suggest that PUFA in the weaning diet does not impair the immune response to a T/B cell mitogen. The lower PPc response to dietary proteins with AA/DHA suggests a positive effect on oral tolerance. Funding provided by CIHR.