Inhibitory effect of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to intestinal IL-15 expression is associated with reduction of TCRαβ+CD8α+CD8β− intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes

Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and their cytokines play an important role in the regulation of gut immune response and take part in gut immune barrier function. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) is an immunoregulator that has been shown to influence the process of gut inflammation. Interleukin (IL)-15 is a T-cell growth factor that has been shown to influence the differentiation of IEL. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of dietary n-3 PUFA on IEL. IEL phenotype and cytokine (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β1) profile were measured by FACS and real-time RT-PCR in healthy adult rats fed with fish oil diet for 90 days. Rats fed with corn oil diet served as controls. Intestinal IL-15 expression was measured by immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR. The results demonstrated a decrease of intestinal IL-15 expression in the fish oil group. Associated with this deduction, n-3 PUFA significantly decreased the proportion of TCRαβ+CD8α+CD8β− cells and IEL-derived TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10. In conclusion, n-3 PUFA could inhibit intestinal mucosal expression of IL-15 and may influence phenotype and function of IEL through this mechanism.