linoleic-acid and Lupus-Erythematosus--Systemic

In an earlier study, we showed that feeding CLA immediately after weaning prolonged survival of NZB/W F1 mice after onset of proteinuria. In the present study, the feeding of CLA was delayed until mice had developed proteinuria. Thirty NZB/W F1 mice were fed a regular rodent chow after weaning. Urine samples were collected to detect proteinuria. Once a mouse was proteinuria positive, it was then randomly assigned to a 0.5% CLA supplement semipurified diet or a control diet (supplement 0.5% corn oil). The next proteinuria positive mouse was then assigned to the opposite diet to which the first mouse was assigned. Mice fed the control diet lost 25% more body weight (13.0 g) than mice fed the CLA diet (9.7 g). Moreover, CLA-fed mice survived an average 1.7-fold longer (148 d) than mice fed the control diet (89 d) after the onset of proteinuria. This follow-up study confirmed that dietary CLA had a beneficial effect in the autoimmune NZB/W F1 mouse. In summary, the cachectic symptom of systemic lupus erythematosus was decreased by dietary CLA and survival days were increased over control group.

Topics: Animals; Dietary Supplements; Disease Progression; Female; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Linoleic Acids, Conjugated; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Mice; Mice, Inbred NZB; Proteinuria; Renal Insufficiency; Survival Analysis; Weight Loss

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring fatty acid with anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic and immune-enhancing activities. Dietary CLA accelerated the onset of proteinuria in autoimmune-prone NZB/W F1 mice but did not affect anti-DNA antibody production. Body weight of the CLA group was decreased compared to the control group at the time proteinuria first developed. CLA group also had slightly earlier mortality than control fed mice, however the mean days of survival did not differ between CLA and control fed mice. Body weight loss between proteinuria onset and death was approximately twice as much in the control group as in the CLA group. Moreover, duration between proteinuria and death was longer in the CLA than in the control group. Our data suggested that dietary CLA may accelerate the autoimmune symptoms of NZB/W F1 mice, however, CLA protected against the disease related body weight loss and prolonged survival after proteinuria.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Antinuclear; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Female; Linoleic Acid; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Mice; Mice, Inbred NZB; Proteinuria; Weight Loss