We saw no significant decline in PUFA levels related to immunization or challenge in the DTH model, except for arachidonic acid in the control group, even though footpad swelling in individual animals

correlated positively with reductions in serum EPA levels during the challenge phase. Evidently, the Th1-mediated inflammation did not consume the same amounts of fatty acids as the Th2-mediated inflammation. This could be explained by the difference in the size of the organs assessed in the two models – paws in the DTH model compared with the entire respiratory system in the airway model. Another possibility is that Th2-driven inflammation consumes large amounts of fatty acids because eosinophils are versatile producers of products from unsaturated fatty acids [24]. Further, we observed a reduction of selleck PUFA levels concomitant with immunization with a Th2-promoting adjuvant (alum), but not alongside selleckchem immunization with a Th1-promoting adjuvant (Freund’s complete adjuvant). Th1 immunity was actually accomplished by an increase in serum arachidonic acid and DHA levels after immunization. The consumption of PUFAs during the Th2- but not the Th1-sensitization phase opens

the possibility that lipid mediators formed from PUFAs participate in producing the outcome of the interaction between the antigen-presenting cell and the naive T cell, in a way leading to Th2 cell maturation. The mechanisms can only be speculated upon and need further investigation. PUFAs affect gene transcription factors [25], production of prostaglandins and related mediators and affect thrombocyte activation and coagulation, processes that are linked intimately to inflammation ID-8 and immunity [26]. In conclusion, our results demonstrate clearly the complexity of the immunomodulatory effects of PUFAs and point to the importance of a clear definition of the type of immune reaction involved before testing PUFA supplementation as a preventive or disease-modulatory treatment. PUFA supplementation could probably be of significance to patients suffering from Th1-mediated

food allergies. However, at present we cannot draw conclusions concerning effects of PUFA supplementation on patients suffering from allergies that are complex mixtures of Th1 and Th2 immune reactions. This work was supported by the Swedish Research Council for Environmental, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS), Food and Health Concept Center, Swedish Nutrition Foundation and Swedish Research Council, Gothenburg, Sweden. The authors declare no financial or commercial conflicts of interest. “
“Department of Clinical Research, Hamdard University, New Delhi, India In T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases of the CNS, apoptosis of Fas+ T cells by FasL contributes to resolution of disease. However, the apoptosis-inducing cell population still remains to be identified.