n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Suppress the Localization and Activation of Signaling Proteins at the Immunological Synapse in Murine CD4+ T Cells by Affecting Lipid Raft Formation

The molecular properties of immuniasuppressive n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have not been fully elucidated. Using CD4(+) T cells from wild-type control and fat-1 transgenic mice (enriched in n-3 PUFA), we show that membrane raft accumulation assessed by Laurdan (6-dodecanoyl-2-dimethyl aminonaphthalene) labeling was enhanced in fat-1 cells following immunological synapse (IS) formation by CD3-specific Ab expressing hybridoma cells. However, the localization of protein kinase CO, phospholipase C gamma-1, and F-actin into the IS was suppressed. In addition, both the phosphorylation status of phospholipase C gamma-1 at the IS and cell proliferation as assessed by CFSE labeling and [H-3]thymidine incorporation were suppressed in fat-1 cells. These data imply that lipid rafts may be targets for the development of dietary agents for the treatment of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. The Journal of Immunology, 2008, 181: 6236-6243.