Abstract
The implications of circulating essential fatty acids (FA) on the inflammatory risk profile and clinical outcome are still unclear. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the pathogenesis of acute infection, we analyzed the FA content in red blood cell (RBC) membranes of patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and controls. We prospectively studied 60 patients including 30 patients with CDI and 30 controls to assess lipid concentrations in erythrocyte membranes using gas chromatography. We observed a higher level of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in RBC membranes from patients with CDI. In patients with CDI, we also noticed a higher level of 20:4 n-6 FA and only a small amounts of C20:2n-6, C20:3n-6 FAs, arachidonic acid (AA) precursors, which suggest an intense inflammatory reaction in the organism during infection. We also noticed low levels of n-3 FA in the RBC membranes of patients infected with CDI. There is a deficit of n-3 FA in patients with CDI. n-3 FA are probably used during CDI as precursors of pro-resolving mediators that may indicate a therapeutic role of n-3 PUFAs in CDI. The changes in fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes during CDI alter their functions which may have an impact on the clinical outcome.
Highlights
CZEPIEL J., GDULA-ARGASIÑSKA J., GARLICKI A. 2016. n-3 and n-6 fatty acid changes in the erythrocyte membranes of patients with Clostridium difficile infection
In order to gain a deeper understanding of the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the pathogenesis of acute infection, we analyzed the FA content in red blood cell (RBC) membranes of patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and controls
There is a deficit of n-3 FA in patients with CDI. n-3 FA are probably used during CDI as precursors of pro-resolving mediators that may indicate a therapeutic role of n-3 PUFAs in CDI
Summary
64 years), with median body mass index (BMI) 24.3 kg/m2 and 30 volunteers as control group (18 women and 12 men) from 32 to 85 years old (median: 61.3 years), with median BMI 24.0 kg/m2. CDI was diagnosed in patients experiencing diarrhea, defined as the passage of 3 or more unformed stools in 24 hours; the infection was confirmed by the detection of the C. diff. Antigen and toxins in feces using the C. diff. Quick Check Complete test kit (TechLab Inc., Blacksburg, USA). When the test came back positive for the antigen but negative for the toxin, the test for the C. diff. Toxin was repeated with the ELISA C. diff. Toxin A/B II test kit (TechLab Inc., Blacksburg, USA) or by genetic methods, Illumigene C. diff. We excluded patients on a reduction diet. All participants described their diet as typical. Exclusion criteria included the presence of any other acute or chronic inflammatory diseases in both groups and diarrhea from any reason in controls
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