Decreased antigen-induced eicosanoid release in conjugated linoleic acid-fed guinea pigs

This study investigated the capacity of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) to reduce ex vivo antigen-induced release of eicosanoids in a type I hypersensitivity model. Guinea pigs were fed a diet containing 0.25% safflower oil (control) or 0.25% CLA [43% trans (t)10, cis (c)12; 41% c9, t11/t9, c11 18:2] for 2 wk before and during sensitization to ovalbumin (OVA). Lungs, tracheas, and bladders were incubated in physiological saline solution (PSS) for 1 h (basal mediator release) and challenged with OVA (0.01 g/l PSS) for 1 h (mediator release in response to antigen). Eicosanoids were quantified by HPLC/tandem mass spectrometry or enzyme immunoassay. CLA feeding resulted in no change in basal release but decreased eicosanoid release from sensitized tissues in response to antigen challenge in the following manner: thromboxane B(2), 6-keto-prostaglandin (PG)F(1alpha), PGF(2alpha), PGD(2), PGE(2) by 57-75% in lung, 45-65% in trachea, and 38-60% in bladder; and leukotriene C(4)/D(4)/E(4) by 87, 90, and 50% in lung, trachea, and bladder, respectively. These data indicate that feeding CLA reduces lipid-derived inflammatory mediators produced by this type I hypersensitivity model.