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Supplementation with phosphatidylcholine during suckling improves the immune response of the offspring
Author(s) -
Lewis Erin Diane,
Goruk Susan,
Curtis Jonathan M,
Jacobs René L,
Field Catherine J
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.123.8
Subject(s) - offspring , choline , medicine , endocrinology , immune system , phosphatidylcholine , biology , litter , lactation , cd8 , spleen , splenocyte , chemistry , pregnancy , immunology , phospholipid , biochemistry , genetics , membrane , agronomy
Choline is essential during suckling for the development of the offspring. In the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition cohort, the major forms of dietary choline were phosphatidylcholine (PC) and free choline. These forms are metabolized differently and this study was conducted to determine the effect of different forms of maternal dietary choline on immune development in the suckled offspring. Lactating dams (n=5/group) were randomized to nutritionally complete, isocaloric, high fat (20% w/w) diets of similar fatty acid compositions, containing 1.0 g/kg choline as free choline (C) or PC (PC) and 2 pups from each litter were pooled to assess the effect of diet on splenocyte function. Diet did not affect growth or the number and relative % of T or B cells in spleen. PC pups had a higher (1.56X) proportion of activated cytotoxic T cells (CD8+CD71+) compared to C pups (p<0.05). When stimulated ex vivo with Concanavalin A, cells from PC pups produced more IL‐2 ( 1.7X), IL‐6 (2.6X), and IFN‐γ (2.4X) compared to C pups (p<0.05). Cells from PC pups produced more IL‐6 (2.1X) and TNF‐α (1.4X) compared to C pups after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (p<0.05). Findings suggest that providing choline in the maternal diet as PC promotes T cell maturation and function in the offspring during a critical period of immune development. Grant Funding Source : WCHRI Studentship, NSERC, Alberta Egg Producers