Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids Suppress Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis in Association with Inhibition of Th1 and Th17 Cell Function

PLoS One. 2015 Sep 22;10(9):e0138241. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138241. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Omega (ω)-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators and thereby contribute to the regulation of inflammation. Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) is a well-established animal model of autoimmune retinal inflammation. To investigate the potential effects of dietary intake of ω-3 LCPUFAs on uveitis, we examined the anti-inflammatory properties of these molecules in comparison with ω-6 LCPUFAs in a mouse EAU model. C57BL/6 mice were fed a diet containing ω-3 LCPUFAs or ω-6 LCPUFAs for 2 weeks before as well as after the induction of EAU by subcutaneous injection of a fragment of human interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant. Both clinical and histological scores for uveitis were smaller for mice fed ω-3 LCPUFAs than for those fed ω-6 LCPUFAs. The concentrations of the T helper 1 (Th1) cytokine interferon-γ and the Th17 cytokine interleukin-17 in intraocular fluid as well as the production of these cytokines by lymph node cells were reduced for mice fed ω-3 LCPUFAs. Furthermore, the amounts of mRNAs for the Th1- and Th17-related transcription factors T-bet and RORγt, respectively, were reduced both in the retina and in lymph node cells of mice fed ω-3 LCPUFAs. Our results thus show that a diet enriched in ω-3 LCPUFAs suppressed uveitis in mice in association with inhibition of Th1 and Th17 cell function.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / blood
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / prevention & control*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Diet*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Lipids / blood
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / genetics
  • Retina / drug effects
  • Retina / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
  • Th1 Cells / drug effects*
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th17 Cells / drug effects*
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism
  • Uveitis / blood
  • Uveitis / immunology
  • Uveitis / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Lipids
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21

Grants and funding

The authors have no support or funding to report.