The effect of dietary fat on autoimmune disease and immune functions of NZB/W F1 mice

Polyunsaturated fat such as corn oil is widely used to prevent cardiovascular disease. However, its beneficial effect on autoimmunity has not been established. Thus, we attempt to study the role of isocaloric food intake by 5% and 20% levels of corn oil in autoimmune prone NZB/W F1 mice. The restricted diet and laboratory chow were also included in the study. The results showed that low levels (5%) of corn oil improved the life span of these mice. However, the restricted diet had the best survival rate, maintaining hematocrit value and less proteinuria among all groups of mice as well as immune parameters such as responses to mitogens, anti-SRBC PFC rsponse, IL-1 and IL-2 production and NK cells. Both low and high levels of corn oil diets failed to improve this immune function indicating poly-unsaturated fat alone cannot modulate the development of autoimmune disease in NZB/W F1 mice.