Dietary cis-9, trans-11-conjugated linoleic acid reduces amyloid β-protein accumulation and upregulates anti-inflammatory cytokines in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model

• Main Authors: Yu Fujita, Kuniyuki Kano, Shigenobu Kishino, Toshihiro Nagao, Xuefeng Shen, Chiharu Sato, Hatsune Hatakeyama, Yume Ota, Sho Niibori, Ayako Nomura, Kota Kikuchi, Wataru Yasuno, Sho Takatori, Kazunori Kikuchi, Yoshitake Sano, Taisuke Tomita, Toshiharu Suzuki, Junken Aoki, Kun Zou, Shunji Natori, Hiroto Komano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-05-01
• Series: Scientific Reports
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88870-9

Abstract Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is an isomer of linoleic acid (LA). The predominant dietary CLA is cis-9, trans-11-CLA (c-9, t-11-CLA), which constitutes up to ~ 90% of total CLA and is thought to be responsible for the positive health benefits associated with CLA. However, the effects of c-9, t-11-CLA on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remain to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary intake of c-9, t-11-CLA on the pathogenesis of an AD mouse model. We found that c-9, t-11-CLA diet-fed AD model mice significantly exhibited (1) a decrease in amyloid-β protein (Aβ) levels in the hippocampus, (2) an increase in the number of microglia, and (3) an increase in the number of astrocytes expressing the anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-10 and 19 (IL-10, IL-19), with no change in the total number of astrocytes. In addition, liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and gas chromatographic analysis revealed that the levels of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) containing c-9, t-11-CLA (CLA-LPC) and free c-9, t-11-CLA were significantly increased in the brain of c-9, t-11-CLA diet-fed mice. Thus, dietary c-9, t-11-CLA entered the brain and appeared to exhibit beneficial effects on AD, including a decrease in Aβ levels and suppression of inflammation.