The delta 6 desaturase knock out mouse reveals that immunomodulatory effects of essential n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are both independent of and dependent upon conversion

Typically fatty acids (FA) exert differential immunomodulatory effects with n-3 [α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] and n-6 [linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA)] exerting anti- and pro-inflammatory effects, respectively. This over-simplified interpretation is confounded by a failure to account for conversion of the parent FA (LA and ALA) to longer-chain bioactive products (AA and EPA/DHA, respectively), thereby precluding discernment of the immunomodulatory potential of specific FA.

Source: The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry - February 29, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Jennifer M. Monk, Danyelle M. Liddle, Daniel J.A. Cohen, Denis H. Tsang, Lyn M. Hillyer, Salma A. Abdelmagid, Manabu T. Nakamura, Krista A. Power, David W.L. Ma, Lindsay E. Robinson Source Type: research