longation and desaturation capacity of 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids and their relation with the non-specific immune response of Psalidodon fasciatus

Author(s)

Jennifer Lima de Oliveira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB)
• Defense date: 2024-02-20

Examining board members

Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton; Rosana Oliveira Batista; Paulo Henrique de Mello

• Advisor: Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton; Aline Dal Olio Gomes

Abstract

Some teleost species have the ability to bioconvert 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids (C18 PUFA), such as C18:2n6 and C18:3n3, ingested through the diet, into long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA), through the action of elongase and desaturase enzymes, maintaining the requirement for these physiologically important fatty acids (FA) as constituents of cell membranes, in addition to being precursors of mediators inflammatory. Considering that Psalidodon fasciatus is a teleost widely found in South America, inhabiting places with different availability of C18 PUFA, this study aimed to evaluate the ability of P. fasciatus to elongate and desaturate C18 PUFAs into LC-PUFA, in addition to understand the possible influence of these FA on the non-specific immune response, through the analysis of the fatty acid profile of the muscle, kidney, phospholipids of the liver, analysis of the expression of enzymes involved in the bioconversion process (elovl 2, 5 and 6 fad), as well as the concentration of prostaglandin (PG), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and expression of genes of the immune system, such as c3 and il10, contributing to this poorly explored area. Thus, we observed that P. fasciatus was able to bioconvert dietary PUFA C18 into LC-PUFA preferentially via the n3 (DHA) pathway and that the different ratios of PUFA C18 n3/n6 in the diet, during this experimental period, were not sufficient to influence the immune system of these animals, indicating that P. fasciatus has a high capacity to adjust, requiring more extreme nutritional scenarios to alter its immune system. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/10937-3 - Elongation and desaturation capacity of 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids and their influence on the non-specific immune response of Astyanax fasciatus
• Grantee: Jennifer Lima de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master