Inverse relationship between superoxide anion production of guinea pig alveolar macrophages and tracheal beta-adrenergic receptor function; influence of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids.

It was shown recently that dietary linoleic acid could modulate beta-adrenergic receptor function in guinea pig tracheal spirals (Loesberg, Folkerts & Nijkamp. Prostagland. Leukotr. essen. Fatty Acids, in press). In the present study the relationship between beta-adrenergic receptor function and oxygen radical production was examined by analyzing the effect of dietary linoleic acid (3, 6 and 12 energy%) on superoxide anion production of guinea pig alveolar macrophages and on relaxation of tracheal spirals upon beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation. An additional dietary group receiving fish oil (3 energy%) in addition to 3 energy% linoleic acid was also included in this study. The zymosan-stimulated (but not the basal) superoxide anion production of the alveolar macrophages differed between the dietary groups. Highest superoxide production was found in those diets that showed the greatest deterioration of beta-adrenergic receptor function. Moreover, a highly significant positive correlation was demonstrated between the amount of generated superoxide and the severity of the attenuation of the beta-adrenergic receptor function in the individual animals. These data suggest that optimal dietary conditions could lead to an improved lung function possibly via modulation of alveolar macrophage radical production.