Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Postoperative ω-3 Fatty Acid Immunonutritional Therapy on NK Cell Gene Methylation in Elderly Patients with Gastric Cancer

  • Published:
Current Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

This study aims to investigate the effect of ω-3 fatty acid immunonutritional therapy on natural killer (NK) cell gene methylation and function in elderly patients with gastric cancer.

Methods

A total of 70 cases of elderly patients with gastric cancer were randomized into the ω-3 fatty acid group and placebo group, according to the type of nutritional support administered. The methylation status of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α gene promoter in peripheral NK cells was detected by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction, and the TNF-α level in peripheral NK cells was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

After 14 days of immunonutritional therapy with ω-3 fatty acid or placebo, patients in the ω-3 group had significantly higher average NK cell activity (0.27 vs. 0.24, P=0.013) and lower percentages of TNF-α gene promoter methylation (25.7% vs. 60%, P<0.05) than the placebo group. However, there were no significant differences in the concentration of albumin, prealbumin and TNF-α in serum, and the NK cell count between the ω-3 group and placebo group.

Conclusion

The postoperative application of ω-3 fatty acid may improve the activity of NK cells, which is correlated to the methylation status of the TNF-α gene promoter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fukatsu K. Role of nutrition in gastroenterological surgery. Ann Gastroenterol Surg, 2019,3(2):160–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Nabavi SF, Bilotto S, Russo GL, et al. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and cancer: lessons learned from clinical trials. Cancer Metastasis Rev, 2015,34(3):359–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fuentes NR, Kim E, Fan YY, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids, membrane remodeling and cancer prevention. Mol Aspects Med, 2018,64:79–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Serini S, Calviello G. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and cancer: any cause for concern? Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care, 2018,21(2):83–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Robbins GT, Yih E, Chou R, et al. Geriatric rehabilitation. Handb Clin Neurol, 2019,167:531–543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Sunami Y, Kleeff J. Immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci, 2019,164:189–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Candiloro F, Borioli V, Borsellino G, et al. Influence of different lipid emulsions on specific immune cell functions in head and neck cancer patients receiving supplemental parenteral nutrition: An exploratory analysis. Nutrition, 2021,86:111178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Prager I, Watzl C. Mechanisms of natural killer cellmediated cellular cytotoxicity. J Leukoc Biol, 2019, 105(6):1319–1329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Cao Y, Wang X, Jin T, et al. Immune checkpoint molecules in natural killer cells as potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther, 2020,5(1):250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Guillerey C. NK Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment. Adv Exp Med Biol, 2020,1273:69–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gomez S, Tabernacki T, Kobyra J, et al. Combining epigenetic and immune therapy to overcome cancer resistance. Semin Cancer Biol, 2020,65:99–113

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kane AE, Sinclair DA. Epigenetic changes during aging and their reprogramming potential. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol, 2019, 54(1):61–83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Tiffon C. The Impact of Nutrition and Environmental Epigenetics on Human Health and Disease. Int J Mol Sci, 2018,19(11):3425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Zapatera B, Prados A, Gómez-Martínez S, et al. Immunonutrition: methodology and applications. Nutr Hosp, 2015,31(Suppl 3):145–154

    Google Scholar 

  15. Moloudizargari M, Redegeld F, Asghari MH, et al. Long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids reduce multiple myeloma exosome-mediated suppression of NK cell cytotoxicity. Daru, 2020,28(2):647–659

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Sakurai Y, Oh-Oka Y, Kato S, et al. Effects of long-term continuous use of immune-enhancing enteral formula on nutritional and immunologic status in non-surgical patients. Nutrition, 2006,22(7–8):713–721

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Mukaro VR, Costabile M, Murphy KJ, et al. Leukocyte numbers and function in subjects eating n-3 enriched foods: selective depression of natural killer cell levels. Arthritis Res Ther, 2008,10(3):R57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Jabłońska B, Mrowiec S. The Role of Immunonutrition in Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy. Nutrients, 2020,12(9):2547

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Mrs. Shao-zhi XI for her assistance in the data collection.

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, The Second Medical Center & National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China

    Li-ning Xu

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, China

    Ying-ying Xu

  3. Department of Radiology, Hubei Province Integrated Hospital of Chinese and Western Medicine, Wuhan, 430015, China

    Gui-ping Li

  4. Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China

    Bo Yang

Authors
  1. Li-ning Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ying-ying Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gui-ping Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bo Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bo Yang.

Ethics declarations

No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article. On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

This project was supported by the General Project of Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (No. 2020CFB826).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xu, Ln., Xu, Yy., Li, Gp. et al. Effect of Postoperative ω-3 Fatty Acid Immunonutritional Therapy on NK Cell Gene Methylation in Elderly Patients with Gastric Cancer. CURR MED SCI 42, 373–378 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-022-2567-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-022-2567-7

Key words

Search

Navigation