EFFECTS OF N-3 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS AND LECTINS ON IMMUNOGLOBULIN PRODUCTION BY SPLEEN LYMPHOCYTES OF SPRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS

We examined the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), such as alpha-linolenic (alpha-LA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and docosahexa enoic acid (DHA) on immunoglobulin (Ig) production by spleen lymphocyt es of Sprague-Dawley rats, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) stron gly inhibited the production of IgA and IgM and that of Ige weakly at 100 mu M. When the lymphocytes mere treated with n-3 PUFA in the prese nce of other inhibitory biomaterials such as lectins, some PUFA attenu ated their inhibitory effect on Ig production, In the presence of conc anavalin A (ConA), all n-3 PUFA attenuated the inhibitory effect of Co nA on the production of IgM or IgG but increased its inhibition of IgA synthesis. Thus, the interaction of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid an d lectins in spleen interfere with each other or the expression of Ig production regulating activity.