Keywords

Macrophages, PUFAs, MCFAs, DHA, Capric Acid, Cytokines

Abstract

Dietary fatty acids play critical roles in both the gustatory and immune systems. In taste, they serve as the sapid molecules that underlie the ability to taste fat, whereas in the immune system, they serve as messengers that help facilitate the fuel-based reprogramming of macrophages (MΦ) that underlie optimal immune function. It has become clear in recent years that there is a functional interaction between the taste and immune system, and fatty acid signaling pathways serve as one focus of this overlap. Similar to taste receptor cells (TRCs), MΦ express G protein-coupled fatty acid receptors GPR120 and GPR84, and our calcium imaging assays reveal they respond over a similar concentration range. As a first approach, we explored the interaction between taste and immune function by exploring the direct effects of fatty acids on MΦ polarization from M0 into M1 or M2 phenotypes using both RAW 264.7 cells and acutely isolated MΦs. We report changes in the MΦ phenotype in response to stimulation with saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and subsequent changes in cytokine release. TRCs are known to express a variety of cytokine receptors, including IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1ß, and may serve as the target for these different M1- and M2-mediated cytokines and provide a pathway for immune modulation of taste. TRCs, as well, release cytokines that, in turn, may influence immune function. We will present data that reflects efforts toward our eventual goal of understanding this relationship between gustatory and immune system function.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Gilbertson, Timothy

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Medicine

Department

Burnett School of Biomedical Science

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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