Omega-6 fatty acids intervention for immune cell mitochondrial dysfunction

Overview

This research focuses on the impact of early-life omega-6 fatty acids on immune cell mitochondrial function, particularly in adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs), which are implicated in promoting inflammation. The study hypothesizes that a high dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids primes these cells for mitochondrial impairment and increased pro-inflammatory signaling. The objective is to identify and develop intervention strategies that can reverse these programmed effects, potentially leading to novel therapeutic approaches.

Technical specifications

• Key areas of investigation include:
  • Mitochondrial function in ATMs, assessing parameters such as respiration, ATP production, and reactive oxygen species levels.
  • Lipid profiling through LC-MS/MS to understand pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid production in ATMs.
  • Cellular diversity and gene expression profiling of ATM subtypes using single-cell RNA sequencing.
• Intervention strategy: Cross-fostering experiments to determine if postnatal intervention can mitigate adverse effects of early-life omega-6 exposure.

Technology readiness level

The research is at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, indicating that component and/or breadboard validation has been conducted in a laboratory environment. The project is poised for further validation and development with a focus on establishing practical intervention strategies.