CYTOKINE LEVELS AFFECTED BY GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID

This study was undertaken to assess whether gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in the form of evening primrose oil (EPO) could affect rat serum cyto kines, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (M CP-1) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The following diet s were administered: control, glucan, Freund's adjuvant and glucan plu s Freund's adjuvant with and without GLA. In the presence of GLA, the IFN-gamma and MCP-1 levels were significantly decreased in contrast to the control group of TNF-alpha, which was significantly stimulated. O n account of interaction between diets and GLA, the remaining diet gro ups of TNF-alpha were either not affected or were inhibited in the pre sence of GLA. The observations indicate that GLA may modulate the leve l of serum IFN-gamma, MCP-1 and TNF-alpha, which may be a worthwhile l ine of treatment in certain human diseases.