Dietary fatty acids alter the adhesion properties of lymphocytes to extracellular matrix proteins

Dietary fats have been shown by many investigators to affect immune responses in vitro and in vivo. However, the exact mechanism(s) by which fats or their metabolic derivatives affect immune function is still unknown. In this report we have investigated whether short-term in vitro exposure to fatty acids alters the adhesion of lymphocytes to extracellular matrix proteins. We found remarkably heterogeneous effects with these agents on lymphocyte adhesion; increases and decreases in adhesion were observed depending upon the fatty acid, cell type and extracellular matrix protein used. Alterations in the adhesion potential of lymphocytes could serve as a mechanism for the reported effects of fatty acids on immune function since lymphocytes are dependent upon rapid and reversible adherence events for most of their effector activities.