Conjugated linoleic acid decreases production of pro-inflammatory products in macrophages: evidence for a PPAR gamma-dependent mechanism.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a dietary fatty acid that has received considerable attention due to its unique properties in rodent models including anti-cancer, anti-atherogenic and anti-diabetic effects. The effects of CLA are similar to those seen with ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARs), most notably of the PPAR gamma subtype. With the recent observation of a role for PPAR gamma in regulation of immune responses, we suspected that CLA could affect immune function, in particular macrophage activity. The goal of our study was to examine whether this dietary fatty acid has anti-inflammatory properties similar to those reported for PPAR gamma activators such as 15-deoxy prostaglandin J(2) (PGJ(2)). In reporter assays, various CLA isomers activated PPAR gamma in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage (RAW) cells. CLA decreased the interferon-gamma (IFN gamma)-induced mRNA expression of mediators of inflammation including cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), inducible NOS (iNOS), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). Reporter assays also demonstrated reduced IFN gamma-stimulated transcriptional activity of the iNOS and COX2 promoters by CLA. Consequently, CLA decreased the production of PGE(2), TNFalpha and the inflammatory agent nitric oxide (NO) in RAW cells treated with IFN gamma. Other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 beta and IL-6 were similarly decreased by CLA treatment of RAW cells. In addition, various CLA isomers induced HL60 cell differentiation along the monocytic lineage as assessed by measuring expression of the cell surface marker CD14. This differentiation process, as well as the regulation of iNOS and COX2 by 15dPGJ(2), is believed to involve PPAR gamma. Mutations of Leu(468) and Glu(471) to alanine in helix 12 of the ligand-binding domain of PPAR gamma resulted in a protein with strong dominant-negative activity (dnPPAR gamma). Transfecting dnPPAR gamma into RAW cells eliminated the ability of various CLA isomers to regulate the iNOS reporter construct. Taken together, these results suggest that CLA has anti-inflammatory properties that are mediated, at least in part, by the nuclear hormone receptor PPAR gamma.