The potential interactions between polyunsaturated fatty acids and colonic inflammatory processes

Modulation of T-cell signalling by non-esterified fatty acids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to be immunosuppressive. In particular, they can decrease important T-cell functions that may have a profound impact on the acquired immune response. Several mechanisms may explain the immunosuppressive properties of PUFAs. Here we review the mechanisms by which they interfere with T-cell activation. PUFAs affect lipid rafts composition and function that play an essential role in T-cell signalling. The possible physiological and pathological significances of this immunomodulation by PUFAs are discussed. Further mechanistic studies and randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to assess more accurately their effects in healthy and pathological states.

Comparison of biochemical effects of statins and fish oil in brain: the battle of the titans

Neural membranes are composed of glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol and proteins. The distribution of these lipids within the neural membrane is not random but organized. Neural membranes contain lipid rafts or microdomains that are enriched in sphingolipids and cholesterol. These rafts act as platforms for the generation of glycerophospholipid-, sphingolipid-, and cholesterol-derived second messengers, lipid mediators that are necessary for normal cellular function. Glycerophospholipid-derived lipid mediators include eicosanoids, docosanoids, lipoxins, and platelet-activating factor. Sphingolipid-derived lipid mediators include ceramides, ceramide 1-phosphates, and sphingosine 1-phosphate. Cholesterol-derived lipid mediators include 24-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, and 7-ketocholesterol. Abnormal signal transduction processes and enhanced production of lipid mediators cause oxidative stress and inflammation. These processes are closely associated with the pathogenesis of acute neural trauma (stroke, spinal cord injury, and head injury) and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease. Statins, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are effective lipid lowering agents that significantly reduce risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Beneficial effects of statins in neurological diseases are due to their anti-excitotoxic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Fish oil omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, have similar anti-excitotoxic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in brain tissue. Thus the lipid mediators, resolvins, protectins, and neuroprotectins, derived from eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid retard neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptotic cell death in brain tissue. Like statins, ingredients of fish oil inhibit generation of beta-amyloid and provide protection from oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. Collective evidence suggests that antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties of statins and fish oil contribute to the clinical efficacy of treating neurological disorders with statins and fish oil. We speculate that there is an overlap between neurochemical events associated with neural cell injury in stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. This commentary compares the neurochemical effects of statins with those of fish oil.

TGFbeta1 expression in colonic mucosa: modulation by dietary lipids

Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) is fundamental to maintain the intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis through its control action on cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. TGFbeta1 dysregulation has been observed in several chronic human diseases, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and colon carcinoma. In the first two conditions, a marked oxidative stress is consistently present, while in the third one, levels of reactive oxygen species tend to be significantly lower than in the surrounding normal tissue. Lipid-derived compounds such as the aldehyde 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) or cholesterol oxidation products (oxysterols) were shown able to induce expression and synthesis of TGFbeta1, an event which can be detrimental or beneficial, essentially depending on its actual intensity. Understanding how specific dietary lipids may influence the complex molecular signaling underlying this cytokine expression, may provide new indications for therapeutic and preventive strategies in inflammatory bowel diseases and colon carcinoma.

Heterologous production of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

To make dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) (20:3n-6) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we introduced Kluyveromyces lactis Delta12 fatty acid desaturase, rat Delta6 fatty acid desaturase, and rat elongase genes. Because Fad2p is able to convert the endogenous oleic acid to linoleic acid, this allowed DGLA biosynthesis without the need to supply exogenous fatty acids on the media. Medium composition, cultivation temperature, and incubation time were examined to improve the yield of DGLA. Fatty acid content was increased by changing the medium from a standard synthetic dropout medium to a nitrogen-limited minimal medium (NSD). Production of DGLA was higher in the cells grown at 15 degrees C than in those grown at 20 degrees C, and no DGLA production was observed in the cells grown at 30 degrees C. In NSD at 15 degrees C, fatty acid content increased up until day 7 and decreased after day 10. When the cells were grown in NSD for 7 days at 15 degrees C, the yield of DGLA reached 2.19 microg/mg of cells (dry weight) and the composition of DGLA to total fatty acids was 2.74%. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids in S. cerevisiae without supplying the exogenous fatty acids.

Regulation of interleukin-2 signaling by fatty acids in human lymphocytes

Docosahexaenoic (DHA; C22:6 n-3), eicosapentaenoic (EPA; C20:5 n-3), palmitic (PA; C16:0), and stearic (SA; C18:0) acids decrease lymphocyte proliferation in concentrations of >50 muM, as observed in our previous study. However, oleic acid (OA; C18:1 n-9) and linoleic acid (LA; C18:2 n-6) increase lymphocyte proliferation at 25 muM. In this study, the effect of these FAs on the interleukin-2 (IL-2) signaling pathway in human lymphocytes was investigated. Cells were isolated from heparinized venous blood of healthy human donors by density-gradient sedimentation. Cells were stimulated with 5 mug/ml concanavalin A and treated with FAs in the absence or presence of IL-2 for 1 hour. CD25-alpha externalization was analyzed by flow cytometry, and Janus kinase 1 (JAK1), JAK3, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2, Akt, and protein kinase C (PKC)-zeta phosphorylation were analyzed by Western blotting. The expression of CD25-alpha at the cell surface was increased by DHA, SA, and PA but was unaffected by EPA, OA, and LA. PA, SA, DHA, and EPA decreased JAK1, JAK3, STAT5, and Akt phosphorylation induced by IL-2, but OA and LA did not cause any effect. OA and LA increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation, whereas the other FAs caused a marked decrease. PKC-zeta phosphorylation was decreased by OA and LA and was not altered by the remaining FAs. In conclusion, the inhibitory effect of PA, SA, DHA, and EPA on lymphocyte proliferation observed in our previous study was attributable to a decrease in JAK/STAT, ERK, and Akt pathways activated by IL-2. Probably, OA and LA stimulated lymphocyte proliferation by increasing ERK1/2 phosphorylation through PKC-zeta activation. The inhibition of JAK1, JAK3, STAT5, ERK1/2, and Akt phosphorylation caused by DHA, SA, and PA is associated with an alteration of CD25 expression at the cell surface.

Modulation of inflammation in brain: a matter of fat

Neuroinflammation is a host defense mechanism associated with neutralization of an insult and restoration of normal structure and function of brain. Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of all major CNS diseases. The main mediators of neuroinflammation are microglial cells. These cells are activated during a CNS injury. Microglial cells initiate a rapid response that involves cell migration, proliferation, release of cytokines/chemokines and trophic and/or toxic effects. Cytokines/chemokines stimulate phospholipases A2 and cyclooxygenases. This results in breakdown of membrane glycerophospholipids with the release of arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Oxidation of AA produces pro-inflammatory prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes. One of the lyso-glycerophospholipids, the other products of reactions catalyzed by phospholipase A2, is used for the synthesis of pro-inflammatory platelet-activating factor. These pro-inflammatory mediators intensify neuroinflammation. Lipoxin, an oxidized product of AA through 5-lipoxygenase, is involved in the resolution of inflammation and is anti-inflammatory. Docosahexaenoic acid is metabolized to resolvins and neuroprotectins. These lipid mediators inhibit the generation of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes. Levels of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes are markedly increased in acute neural trauma and neurodegenerative diseases. Docosahexaenoic acid and its lipid mediators prevent neuroinflammation by inhibiting transcription factor NFkappaB, preventing cytokine secretion, blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes, and modulating leukocyte trafficking. Depending on its timing and magnitude in brain tissue, inflammation serves multiple purposes. It is involved in the protection of uninjured neurons and removal of degenerating neuronal debris and also in assisting repair and recovery processes. The dietary ratio of AA to DHA may affect neurodegeneration associated with acute neural trauma and neurodegenerative diseases. The dietary intake of docosahexaenoic acid offers the possibility of counter-balancing the harmful effects of high levels of AA-derived pro-inflammatory lipid mediators.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, membrane organization, T cells, and antigen presentation

Dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially those of the n-3 class, has immunosuppressive effects on both innate and adaptive immunity through various mechanisms. In this review, we focus on the PUFA modulation of membrane architecture and its consequent effects on both T cell responses and antigen presentation. We first use data from in vitro and in vivo experiments to make the case that the immunosuppressive effects of PUFAs begin with membrane incorporation and modulation of lipid-protein lateral organization. This in turn inhibits downstream signaling mediated by T cell receptors and suppresses T cell activation and proliferation. Next, we review evidence for PUFA-mediated alteration of major histocompatibility complex class I and II surface expression and antigen presentation. We propose that PUFAs influence the expression of major histocompatibility complex by altering its conformation, orientation, lateral organization, and trafficking, with consequences for recognition by effector T cells. Finally, we present data from model membrane studies to explain the physical principles that make PUFA acyl chains unique in modifying membrane lateral organization and protein function. An important concept to emerge from these studies is that PUFA acyl chains and cholesterol molecules are sterically incompatible. By applying this concept to the T cell activation and signaling model, mechanisms emerge by which PUFAs can modulate membrane lipid-protein lateral organization. Our data-based models show that membrane modification of both effectors and targets is an important, often overlooked, mechanism of immunomodulation by PUFAs.