DHA-RICH FISH OIL PLAYS A PROTECTIVE ROLE AGAINST LUNG DAMAGE INDUCED BY Plasmodium berghei ANKA IN MURINE MODEL OF MALARIAL INFECTION

Acute Lung Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) are severe complications associated with malarial infection. Their development is related to the adherence of parasitized erythrocytes into the microvasculature and to hyperactivation of the immune response, resulting in a high lethality rate even after the beginning of conventional treatment¹. Omega-3 has been widely studied for its potential to modulate the immune response, being indicated as an alternative in ARDS treatment². Thus, this study aims to investigate the protective role of dietary supplementation with DHA-rich fish oil against lung damage induced by Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA). For this purpose, C57BL/6 infected female mice were prophylactically treated with 3 and 6g/kg of DHA-rich fish oil for 15 days, followed by PbA infection. Animals were evaluated daily for the clinical profile, being euthanized on the 7th-day post-infection for the lungs' histopathological profile, the occurrence of vascular permeability, edema, and cytokine and cellular profile analysis. Treated animals had a significant increase in their survival and prognosis. Likewise, reduced alveolar barrier damage was observed in treated mice compared to non-treated. In addition, the lung edema ratio decreased in DHA-treated compared to PbA mice, preventing lung hemorrhage and vascular occlusion. A strong anti-inflammatory profile was noticed in the lungs of DHA-treated mice, with a reduced level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IFN-ɣ) and an increase in IL-10 levels when compared to PbA, who showed the opposite profile. Also, the cellular phenotypic profile of treated mice showed a decrease in total leukocytes as well as in CD8+ T cells. Hence, the results demonstrated that the prophylactic use of DHA-rich fish oil exerts protective effects against malaria-induced lung damage, reducing the mechanical and immunological events caused by PbA infection.

1 Immunobiology 229 (2024) 152823

2  Nutrition 61 (2019) 64-82