Lack of Apoptosis in Listeria monocytogenes-Infected Thymocytes from Mice Fed with Dietary Lipids

• Published in: Current microbiology 2004-05, Vol.48 (5), p.373-378
• Main Authors: Puertollano, M.A, Puertollano, E, Jimenez-Valera, M, Ruiz-Bravo, A, Pablo, M.A. de, Alvarez de Cienfuegos, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal pathogenic bacteria; Animals; Apoptosis; Bacteria; Caspase 3; Caspases - metabolism; Cell Culture Techniques; Coconut Oil; Cysteine Endopeptidases - metabolism; cysteine proteinases; dietary fat; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; DNA Fragmentation; Fatty acids; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; Immune system; Infectious diseases; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - metabolism; lactate dehydrogenase; Lipids; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeria monocytogenes - pathogenicity; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Multienzyme Complexes - metabolism; Olive Oil; Plant Oils - administration & dosage; Plant Oils - chemistry; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Random Allocation; Synergistic effect; T-Lymphocytes - microbiology; T-Lymphocytes - physiology; thymocytes; Thymus Gland
• ISSN: 0343-8651; 1432-0991
• DOI: 10.1007/s00284-003-4197-z

The potential action of certain fatty acids has been studied since the early 1970s. Numerous effects on immune system functions have been related to dietary lipid administration; therefore, several of them have been applied in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Nevertheless, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may affect host resistance to infectious diseases. In addition, several studies have demonstrated that certain fatty acids are involved in apoptosis induction. Here, we have examined the action of different dietary lipids on the promotion of apoptosis in thymocytes from mice fed with dietary lipids and infected with Listeria monocytogenes. Thus, L. monocytogenes promoted an important cytotoxic effect in all of the groups, but it did not increase the percentage of DNA fragmentation. Similarly, an important increase of caspase-3 activity was demonstrated in OO and FO groups, but infection with L. monocytogenes exerted an inhibitory effect. Finally, L. monocytogenes did not modify proteasome activity among groups fed with dietary lipids. On the basis of this preliminary study, we can state that the infection of thymocytes from mice fed with dietary lipids does not promote a synergistic effect in the induction of apoptosis. Hence, these results may partially serve to elucidate the immune mechanisms involved in cells from mice fed with dietary lipids in an infectious process.