Human peripheral blood T lymphocyte proliferation after activation of the T cell receptor: effects of unsaturated fatty acids

Oils enriched in certain polyunsaturated fatty acids suppress joint pain an d swelling in rheumatoid arthritis patients with active synovitis. Because T lymphocyte activation is important for propagation of joint tissue injury in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, we examined the effects of fatty ac ids added in vitro on proliferation of human T lymphocytes stimulated with monoclonal antibodies to CD3 and CD4. Unsaturated fatty acids reduced T cel l proliferation in a dose dependent manner (dihomogammalinolenic acid > gam malinolenic acid > eicosapentaenoic acid > arachidonic acid). Removal of fa tty acids from cultures before cell stimulation did not change the effects, but addition of fatty acids after cell stimulation failed to reduce T cell responses. The saturated palmitic acid did not influence T cell growth. Th ese studies indicate that small changes in cellular fatty acids can have pr ofound effects on early events in T cell signaling and on T cell function.