Modulation of Immune Response by Omega-3 in Health and Disease
During the last 3-4 decades, there has been vast information on effect of omega-3 on the immune system in health and in diseases, especially those caused by excessive inflammatory response. In this chapter, attempts have been made to elucidate the effect
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Sudha Gangal
Introduction The Immune System Survival is the foremost instinct of all living organisms. The pragmatic danger for survival is the life-threatening diseases caused by millions of disease-causing pathogens present in the environment. As evolution progressed, animals adopted an uncanny way of combating with invading microorganisms with the help of rapidly evolved built-in defence system called immune system. In higher vertebrates, especially mammals, it represents an extremely finely tuned exquisite, well-orchestrated system with memory. Immune system functions in two ways: innate or preexisting immune system which is composed of phagocytic cells such as granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages; and natural killer (NK) cells, which act in coordination with soluble mediators which are the components of complement system, chemokines and monokines (produced by monocytes and macrophages), acute phase proteins produced by hepatocytes and mediators of inflammation to get rid of offending pathogens [1]. This is the first line of defence which acts immediately after the microbe enters in the body and has no memory. On the other hand, adaptive or acquired immunity needs to ‘educate’ the system to defend the microbes, which takes a few days, but is very specific, long lasting and has memory, which means it remembers the pathogen against which it is developed and when the same pathogens infects the host again, acts quickly and more efficiently. Adaptive immunity consists of antigen-presenting cells, responding T and B lymphocytes and a host of cytokines produced by antigen-activated cells. Cytokines are small molecular weight S. Gangal (&) Integrated Centre for Cancer Treatment and Research, Wagholi, Pune 412 207, Maharashtra, India e-mail: [email protected] S. Gangal Formerly, Head, Immunology Division, Cancer Research Institute, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
mediators of immune response which can be helpful in initiating, amplifying and channelizing the immune response or can at times be harmful and can induce pathological conditions such as autoimmunity, allergy and several inflammatory conditions.
Long-Chain Fatty Acids and Immune Response Ingested foods are known to influence immune response. Some nutritional components called food allergens can cause severe fatal hypersensitivity reactions [2] sometimes, while micronutrients are the essential features for development and functioning of immune response [3]. Recently, a great deal of emphasis is being given on the ability of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3 to modify immune functions [4]. These fatty acids form the framework of cell membranes and help in maintaining membrane fluidity. They also act as precursors of molecules involved in the regulation of inflammation and immunity [5]. Omega-6 is known to induce pro-inflammatory response, while omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA produce substances that can favourably regulate inflammation [6–10]. The anti-inflammatory effect of fish oil, a well-accepted sourc
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