Maintenance of NF-kappaB activation in T-lymphocytes and a naive T-cell population in autoimmune-prone (NZB/NZW)F(1) mice by feeding a food-restricted diet enriched with n-3 fatty acids

Cell Immunol. 2001 Nov 1;213(2):122-33. doi: 10.1006/cimm.2001.1866.

Abstract

We have previously shown that feeding a fish oil (FO) supplemented diet in combination with 40% food restriction (FO/FR) has a greater impact on extending life span in lupus-prone (NZB x NZW)F1 mice than either FO ad libitum (FO/AL) or corn oil food restricted (CO/FR) alone. Lupus disease is associated with increased Th-2 (i.e., IL-6 and IL-10) cytokine production and reduced IL-2 production and NF-kappaB activation. We hypothesized that the mechanism of action by which FO/FR increases life span may involve alterations in T-lymphocyte signaling and subsequent cytokine production. To test this hypothesis, we isolated and then stimulated splenic T-lymphocytes ex vivo with anti-CD3 and -CD28 monoclonal antibodies. We report here that CO/FR and FO/FR and to a lesser extent FO/AL offset disease-associated losses in Th-1 cytokine production, CD69 expression, and NF-kappaB activation in splenic T-lymphocytes activated ex vivo. Similarly, CO/FR and FO/FR prevented the disease-dependent rise in Th-2 cytokine production ex vivo and CD69 expression in vivo. In essence, the T-lymphocyte phenotype in the old CO/FR and FO/FR groups was identical to that in the young disease-free mice. Taken together, the data suggest that both CO/FR and FO/FR increase life span, in part, by maintaining a youthful immune phenotype in autoimmune-prone mice. However, FO/FR appears to represent a more potent dietary strategy in delaying disease-associated immune dysregulation than CO/FR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Autoimmunity
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / immunology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / immunology*
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Immunization
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Lupus Nephritis / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / cytology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / cytology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Dietary Fats, Unsaturated
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • NF-kappa B