Polyunsaturated fatty acids modify colorectal epithelial cell cytokine expression in a leucocyte co-culture model in response to probiotic bacteria

Diets high in n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been linked to improved colorectal health(1). One possible mechanism underlying this observation is that different PUFAs affect the immune response of epithelial cells to beneficial bacteria such as probiotics. The aim of this study was therefore to test whether pre-incubation of cells with different PUFAs would modify the epithelial cell response to probiotic bacteria.