Effect of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids on expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lambs vaccinated against foot and mouth disease virus

The current study was aim to the effects of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, or palmitic acid sources) on expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lambs vaccinated against foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus. A total of fifteen Sangsari male lambs with an age of 6 ± 1 months and body weight of 42 ± 1 kg were randomly assigned to one of three experimental treatments as follows: 1) PO: received calcium soap of palm oil fatty acid (FA) in the diet as source of palmitic acid (16:0), 2) SO: received calcium soap of sunflower oil FAs in the diet as source of linoleic acid (n-6 18:2) and 3) LO: received calcium soap of linseed oil FA in the diet as source of α-linolenic acid (n-3 18:3). The lambs were offered an iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diet for 28 days (including 21 days of adaptation and 7 days of sampling). The lambs were individually housed and had access to water ad libitum. The expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA was lower in LO when compared with PO and SO (P<0.05). The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) mRNA was higher in PO when compared with SO and LO and the lowest expression of TNFα mRNA was measured in LO (P<0.05). Lower concentrations of serum cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) were measured in vaccinated lambs on LO diet when compared with vaccinated lambs on palmitic FA diet (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between SO and LO groups in serum cholesterol or TG levels. There were no significant differences between treatments (P>0.05) in serum level of total proteins and albumin. The findings from the current study showed feeding α-linolenic acid diet following vaccination against FMD resulted in a decrease in serum levels of cholesterol and TG due to higher n-3 PUFA intake and suppressed the pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (IL-1 and TNFα).