Long chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids attenuate the IL-1β-induced pro-inflammatory response in human fetal intestinal epithelial cells

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that excessive inflammation of the immature intestine may predispose premature infants to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) in human fetal and adult intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) in primary culture. METHODS: Human fetal IEC in culture were derived from a healthy fetal small intestine (H4) or resected small intestine of a neonate with NEC (NEC-IEC). Intestinal cell lines Caco2 and NCM460 in culture were used as models for mature IEC. IEC in culture were pre-treated with 100µM palmitic acid (PAL), DHA, EPA, ARA or ARA+DHA for 48 hrs and then stimulated with pro-inflammatory IL-1β. RESULTS: DHA significantly attenuated IL-1β induced pro-inflammatory IL-8 and IL-6 protein and mRNA in fetal H4, NEC-IEC and mature Caco2, NCM460 IEC, compared to control and PAL treatment. DHA down regulated IL-1R1 (IL-1β receptor) and NFk β1 mRNA expression in fetal and adult IEC. ARA had potent anti-inflammatory effects with lower IL-8 and IL-6 (protein and mRNA) in fetal H4 but not in NEC-IEC or adult IEC. CONCLUSION: The present study provides evidence that DHA and ARA may have important anti-inflammatory functions for prevention of NEC in premature infants.