Regulation of IL-2 signaling by fatty acids in human lymphocytes.

Author(s)

Renata Gorjão

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2008-05-19

Examining board members

Rui Curi; Ana Maria Pita Lottenberg; Sonia Jancar Negro; Silvana Auxiliadora Bordin da Silva; Francisco Garcia Soriano

• Advisor: Rui Curi

Abstract

The effect of fatty acids (FA) on interleukin -2 (IL-2) signaling pathway in human lymphocytes was investigated. Docosahexaenoic (DHA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), palmitic (PA) and stearic (SA) acids decreased lymphocyte proliferation in concentrations above 50 <font face=\"symbol\">mM. However, oleic (OA) and linoleic (LA) acids increase lymphocyte proliferation at 25 <font face=\"symbol\">mM. PA, SA, DHA and EPA decreased JAK 1, JAK 3, STAT 5 and AKT phosphorylation induced by IL-2 but OA and LA did not cause any effect. OA and LA increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation whereas the other FA caused a marked decrease. PKC-<font face=\"symbol\">Z phosphorylation was decreased by OA and LA only. In conclusion, the inhibitory effect of PA, SA, DHA and EPA on lymphocyte proliferation observed in our previous study was due to a decrease in protein phosphorylation activated by IL-2. Probably, OA and LA stimulated lymphocyte proliferation by increasing ERK 1/2 phosphorylation throught PKC-<font face=\"symbol\">Z activation. The inhibition of JAK 1, JAK3, STAT 5, ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation caused by DHA is associated to a decrease in membrane lipid rafts contend. (AU)