Abstract
Diet-derived fatty acids (FAs) are essential sources of energy and fundamental structural components of cells. They also play important roles in the modulation of immune responses in health and disease. Saturated and unsaturated FAs influence the effector and regulatory functions of innate and adaptive immune cells by changing membrane composition and fluidity and by acting through specific receptors. Impaired balance of saturated/unsaturated FAs, as well as n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated FAs has significant consequences on immune system homeostasis, contributing to the development of many allergic, autoimmune, and metabolic diseases. In this paper, we discuss up-to-date knowledge and the clinical relevance of the influence of dietary FAs on the biology, homeostasis, and functions of epithelial cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, innate lymphoid cells, T cells and B cells. Additionally, we review the effects of dietary FAs on the pathogenesis of many diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergy, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis as well as type 1 and 2 diabetes.
Highlights
Fatty acids (FAs) are carboxylic acids containing a different number of carbons and double bonds [1]
We comprehensively describe the up-to-date view on the immunomodulatory effects of dietary fatty acids (FAs) on the cells of innate and adaptive immunity, together with their involvement in the pathogenesis of allergic, autoimmune, and some metabolic diseases
A study performed in older children reported that high n-3 PUFA intake is associated with a decreased risk of islet autoimmunity but is not associated with progression to Type 1 Diabetes mellitus (T1DM) [308]
Summary
Fatty acids (FAs) are carboxylic acids containing a different number of carbons and double bonds [1]. The first group is comprised of saturated FAs (SFAs) such as palmitic acid (PA; C16:0), lauric acid (C12:0), myristic acid (MA; C14:0), and stearic acid (STA; C18:0). These FAs do not contain any double bonds in their carbon backbone. The consumption of UFAs constitutes either protection or risk of development of many immune-related and metabolic diseases depending on the n-6/n-3 PUFAs balance, diet diversity, underlying genetics, and other environmental factors including microbiome [25,26]. We comprehensively describe the up-to-date view on the immunomodulatory effects of dietary FAs on the cells of innate and adaptive immunity, together with their involvement in the pathogenesis of allergic, autoimmune, and some metabolic diseases
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