Prevention of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats by a novel fungal source of γ-linolenic acid

Abstract

The effects of oral administration of linoleic- and γ-inolenic-acid-rich oils on the clinical and histopathological manifestations of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) were investigated in Lewis rats 7 d post-inoculation. γ-Linolenic-acid-rich fungal (Mucor javanicus) oil at 500 mg/kg body weight abrogated clinical and histological signs of EAE although at doses of 200 and 1000 mg/kg body weight it was only effective in delaying the onset of clinical disease. Linoleic-acid-rich safflower-seed (Carthamus tinctorius) oil at 500, 750 and 1000 mg/kg body weight decreased the severity of clinical EAE. disease in a dose-dependent manner. The effects in healthy animals of orally administered γ-linolenic-acid-rich fungal oil (500 mg/kg body weight) and linoleic-acid-rich safflower-seed oil (1000 mg/kg body weight) on splenic lymphocyte proliferative responses to the T-cell mitogen concanavalin-A (Con A), membrane fatty acid composition and lymphocyte sub-sets were also studied. Both treatments enhanced the T-cell proliferative response to Con A. There was no significant effect on the proportion of splenic CD8+ or CD4+ lymphocytes. Compositional studies on splenic phosphoglyceride fatty acids of oil-treated animals suggest the above responses were associated with increases in spleen dihomo-γ-linolenic and arachidonic acids.

Antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids in multiple sclerosis

“…This effect could be abolished by indomethacin, indicating prostaglandins (PGs) as mediators of this effect (Mertin & Stackpoole, 1978). In addition, clinical signs of EAE could be abrogated by oral administration of GLA and LA-rich oils (Harbige et al, 1995). In another study, oral supplementation with n-6 fatty acid GLA from Borago officinalis ameliorated both acute and chronic disease in EAE (Harbige et al, 2000).…”

The potential role for arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in protection against some central nervous system injuries in preterm infants

“…To avoid the tedious nutritional deprivation, genetically susceptible rats were selected. It has now been shown that these genetically susceptible rats can be protected by feeding certain EFA (45), thus proving the importance of the membrane lipids to the protection of the brain.…”

Protective Mechanisms by ω-6 Lipids in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) are Associated with Cytokines and Eicosanoids

“…EAE can be induced by inoculation with neuroantigens such as myelin basic protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and their peptides [ 1-31. We have reported previously that oral administration of lipid, rich in the omega-6 fatty acid ylinolenic acid, can completely protect Lewis rats from spinal cord homogenate induced EAE [4]. In contrast we have found that omega-3 fatty acids exacerbate and prolong EAE in Lewis rats [5,6].…”