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Dietary Fatty Acids and Macrophages

  • Chapter
The Macrophage as Therapeutic Target

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 158))

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Abstract

Fatty acids constitute key components of cell membranes. The fatty acid composition of cell membranes influences membrane fluidity. Membrane phospholipids are substrates for the generation of intracellular and extracellular signalling molecules. The supply of fatty acids to monocytes and macrophages influences their fatty acid composition. Thus, dietary fatty acid composition influences that of monocyte and macrophage membranes. This can have functional consequences. The n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) arachidonic acid is the principal substrate for generation of eicosanoids via cyclooxygenase and li-poxygenase enzymes. Increased availability of n-3 PUFAs (found in oily fish and fish oil) can affect chemotaxis, phagocytosis, respiratory burst, eicosanoid production, cytokine production and other monocyte/macrophage functions. Although some of the effects of n-3 PUFAs may be brought about by modulation of the amount and types of eicosanoids made, it appears that these fatty acids might elicit some of their effects by eicosanoid-independent mechanisms, including actions upon intracellular signalling pathways and transcription factor activity. The functional effects of n-3 PUFAs are generally termed as “anti-inflammatory” and are considered beneficial to health. The effects of dietary fatty acids on monocyte/macrophage function may also be relevant to atherosclerosis, which is now recognised to include an inflammatory component. Fatty acids could potentially affect the degree of oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), its uptake by vascular cells, aspects of foam cell formation and inflammatory activity within atherosclerotic lesions. These effects might account for the reported protective effects of n-3 PUFAs towards cardiovascular mortality.

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Abbreviations

AA:

Arachidonic acid

COX:

Cyclooxygenase

DGLA:

Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid

DHA :

Docosahexaenoic acid

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

GLA:

γ-Linolenic acid

IFN:

Interferon

IL:

Interleukin

LOX:

Lipoxygenase

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

LT:

Leukotriene

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acid

PG:

Prostaglandin

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

TNF:

Tumour necrosis factor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, SO16 7PX, Southampton, UK

    P. C. Calder

  2. Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, RG6 6AP, Reading, UK

    P. Yaqoob

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  1. P. C. Calder
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  1. Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3RE, Oxford, UK

    Siamon Gordon

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Calder, P.C., Yaqoob, P. (2003). Dietary Fatty Acids and Macrophages. In: Gordon, S. (eds) The Macrophage as Therapeutic Target. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 158. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55742-2_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55742-2_10

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