Abstract
The post partum period is characterized by immunosuppression and increased disease susceptibility. Both phytosterols from microalga Dunaniella tertiolecta and dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) influence cell proliferation and cytokine release during inflammation. The objective of this paper was the evaluation of the effects of physterols, extracted and purified from D. tertiolecta, on the in vitro immune responses of ewes supplemented with flaxseed during post partum. Twenty Comisana parturient ewes were divided in two balanced groups, and supplemented with flaxseed (FS, 250 g/day) or fed with a conventional diet (CON). Blood samples (15 mL) were collected for five weeks, starting from lambing, in order to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Stimulated PBMC were treated with a total sterols fraction from D. tertiolecta (TS), a mix of ergosterol and 7-dehydroporiferasterol (purified extract, PE), and a mix of acetylated ergosterol and 7-dehydroporiferasterol (acetylated purified extract, AcPE), extracted and purified from D. tertiolecta at two concentrations (0.4 and 0.8 mg/mL). Results of the experiment demonstrated that n-3 PUFA from flaxseed induced an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile, with an increase of both IL-10, IL-6 and a decrease of IL-1β. TS, PE, and AcPE purified from D. tertiolecta showed an anti-proliferative effect on sheep PBMC regardless their chemical composition and concentration.
Highlights
Parturition is considered a physiological acute inflammatory process in which neutrophils and monocytes migrate in the uterus and cervix, followed by an increase in cytokine production, such as interleukins IL-6, IL-1, IL-8 and TNF-α and other chemotaxis factors [1,2]; it is characterized by a concomitant increase in reactive oxidative species formation [3]
We aimed at investigating: (i) the effects of diet supplementation with flaxseed on sheep peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) proliferation and cytokine production during post partum; (ii) the effects of in vitro stimulation with a total sterols fraction, a mixture of ergosterol/7-dehydroporiferasterol, and a mixture of acetylated ergosterol/7-dehydroporiferasterol purified from D. tertiolecta, on PBMC proliferation and cytokine production of sheep fed flaxseed or not, during post partum
PBMC proliferation decreased throughout the post partum; in the conventional diet (CON) group, PBMC
Summary
Parturition is considered a physiological acute inflammatory process in which neutrophils and monocytes migrate in the uterus and cervix, followed by an increase in cytokine production, such as interleukins IL-6, IL-1, IL-8 and TNF-α and other chemotaxis factors [1,2]; it is characterized by a concomitant increase in reactive oxidative species formation [3]. The stressful events of parturition are accompanied by the production of glucocorticoids (GC)s from the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, among which cortisol is the main GC secreted. Circulating cortisol inhibits T-cell proliferation and T-cell development; it has been studied that changes in cortisol levels around parturition are accompanied by immunosuppression, and increasing disease susceptibility [4,5]. The innate immune responses have a predominant role to protect the animal from the development of post partum reproductive diseases [6]. An efficient inflammatory response is required to restore immune homeostasis [7].
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