Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids attenuate the IL-1β-induced proinflammatory response in human fetal intestinal epithelial cells.

Abstract

BackgroundEvidence suggests that excessive inflammation of the immature intestine may predispose premature infants to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) in human fetal and adult intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) in primary culture.MethodsHuman fetal IEC in culture were derived from a healthy fetal small intestine (H4) or resected small intestine of a neonate with NEC (NEC-IEC). Intestinal cell lines Caco2 and NCM460 in culture were used as models for mature IEC. IEC in culture were pre-treated with 100µM palmitic acid (PAL), DHA, EPA, ARA or ARA+DHA for 48 hrs and then stimulated with pro-inflammatory IL-1β.ResultsDHA significantly attenuated IL-1β induced pro-inflammatory IL-8 and IL-6 protein and mRNA in fetal H4, NEC-IEC and mature Caco2, NCM460 IEC, compared to control and PAL treatment. DHA down regulated IL-1R1 (IL-1β receptor) and NFk β1 mRNA expression in fetal and adult IEC. ARA had potent anti-inflammatory effects with lower IL-8 and IL-6 (protein and mRNA) in fetal H4 but not in NEC-IEC or adult IEC.ConclusionThe present study provides evidence that DHA and ARA may have important anti-inflammatory functions for prevention of NEC in premature infants.