Serum Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Immunology-Related Gene Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in Healthy Children

Mol Nutr Food Res. 2019 Apr;63(7):e1800990. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201800990. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Abstract

Scope: Some studies suggest that a high dietary intake of omega-6 fatty acids is pro-inflammatory. However, whether omega-6 fatty acids actually cause pathogenic inflammation in humans is debated. Therefore, the associations between expression of immunology-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum total omega-6 PUFA status are investigated.

Methods and results: Serum fatty acid profile and expression of 460 immunology-related genes in PBMCs from 58 healthy children (6-13 years) is measured, and examined the expression differences between children with high or low total omega-6 PUFA status (upper vs lower tertile). Taken together, both univariate analyses and integrated omics analyses support that while high omega-6 PUFA level associated with higher expressing of genes related to innate immune responses, it also associated with lower expression of several genes related to adaptive immune responses.

Conclusion: Omega-6 PUFA status associated both positively and negatively with expression of specific immunology-related genes in PBMCs in healthy children. The results may suggest a nuanced role for omega-6 fatty acids in the interphase of lipids and inflammation, and warrants further examination in gene-environment studies and randomized controlled trials.

Keywords: children; gene expression; inflammation; nanostring; omega-6.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity / genetics*
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / blood*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression* / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / physiology*
  • Male

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Omega-6