Suppression by essential fatty acids of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is abolished by indomethacin.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in Lewis rats was suppressed by treatment with essential fatty acids (EFA) given perorally. This treatment effect could be abolished by administration of a drug (Indomethacin) known to inhibit biosynthesis of certain prostaglandins from EFA. This observation suggests that the suppressive effect of EFA on cell-mediated immune reactions is brought about by EFA-derived prostaglandins.