Delayed-type hypersensitivity and humoral immunity modulation by dietary lipids in a murine model of pulmonary tumorigenesis induced by urethan.

Mice fed on semisynthetic formulas containing 15% of corn oil (CO), cod fish liver oil (FO), oleic acid (O) or a mixture of 46% of palmitic and 50% of stearic acids (PS) were treated with urethan during 18 weeks for lung tumor induction. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) assay, hemagglutination assay and the amount of lung nodes (alveolar adenocarcinomas) were recorded. Results showed significantly greater DTH in CO and FO with respect to O and PS feeding mice; the two last ones induced an essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency (EFAD). In the O lot there was a non-significant diminution of the humoral response. EFAD animals exhibited a tendency to increase number of lung nodes in relation to CO and FO lots. Splenomegalia was recorded in FO lot. Confront between spleen weight and DTH showed a 72% correlation, suggesting an increase in cellular immunity as increasing unsaturation. It may be concluded that in this suitable model of tumorigenesis the manipulation of dietary lipids may be a strategy to modify the immune system response.