Changes in the immune functions and susceptibility to Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice fed dietary lipids

• Published in: Immunology and cell biology 2004-08, Vol.82 (4), p.370-376
• Main Authors: Puertollano, María A, Puertollano, Elena, Ruiz‐Bravo, Alfonso, Jiménez‐Valera, María, De Pablo, Manuel A, Álvarez De Cienfuegos, Gerardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Body Weight; Coconut Oil; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats - pharmacology; dietary lipids; Dinoprostone - blood; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; fish oil; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; Fish Oils - pharmacology; host natural resistance; hydrogenated coconut oil; immunomodulation; interleukin; Interleukin-12 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-4 - biosynthesis; Leukotriene B4 - blood; leukotrienes; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis - immunology; Mice; Olive Oil; Organ Size; Plant Oils - administration & dosage; Plant Oils - pharmacology; prostaglandins; Protein Subunits - biosynthesis; Spleen - chemistry; Spleen - parasitology
• ISSN: 0818-9641; 1440-1711
• DOI: 10.1111/j.0818-9641.2004.01262.x

The direct examination of the effects that fish oil diets (composed of long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) exert on immune system function indicates a reduction of host natural resistance to infectious diseases mainly because of a suppression of immune function generated by the fatty acids contained in this diet. Here, we evaluated the concentration of IL‐12, IL‐4, prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 in the serum from BALB/c mice receiving four different diets. Each group was fed a diet that differed only in the source of fat: a low‐fat diet (2.5% by weight), an olive oil diet (20% by weight), a fish oil diet (20% by weight) or a hydrogenated coconut oil diet (20% by weight). Mice were fed for 4 weeks and then infected with the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. An initial reduction in the Th1‐type response as a result of a decrease in IL‐12p70 secretion, an inefficient action of IL‐4 (Th2‐type response) and no modification of pro‐inflammatory lipid‐mediator production could be, at least in part, the key events responsible for the inadequate elimination of L. monocytogenes from the spleens of mice fed a fish oil diet. Furthermore, our results suggest that the type of dietary lipids may affect the circulating concentration of IL‐12p70 and IL‐4, leading to a modulation in the protective cellular immune response to L. monocytogenes infection.