E. Cook. Decreased antigen-induced eicosanoid release in conjugated linoleic acid-fed guinea pigs. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 282: R1104-R1112, 2002 10.1152/ ajpregu.00075.2001.-This study investigated the capacity of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) to reduce ex vivo antigeninduced release of eicosanoids in a type I hypersensitivity model. Guinea pigs were fed a diet containing 0.25% safflower oil (control) or 0.25% CLA [43% trans (t)10, cis (c)12; 41% c9, t11/t9, c11 18:2] for 2 wk before and during sensitization to ovalbumin (OVA). Lungs, tracheas, and bladders were incubated in physiological saline solution (PSS) for 1 h (basal mediator release) and challenged with OVA (0.01 g/l PSS) for 1 h (mediator release in response to antigen). Eicosanoids were quantified by HPLC/tandem mass spectrometry or enzyme immunoassay. CLA feeding resulted in no change in basal release but decreased eicosanoid release from sensitized tissues in response to antigen challenge in the following manner: thromboxane B 2, 6-keto-prostaglandin (PG)F1âŁ, PGF 2âŁ, PGD2, PGE2 by 57-75% in lung, 45-65% in trachea, and 38-60% in bladder; and leukotriene C 4/D4/E4 by 87, 90, and 50% in lung, trachea, and bladder, respectively. These data indicate that feeding CLA reduces lipid-derived inflammatory mediators produced by this type I hypersensitivity model. type I hypersensitivity; lung; trachea; bladder A GROUP OF 18-C FATTY ACID isomers referred to as conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) has been shown to have many biological effects, including modulation of the immune system (9, 26, 37, 38). We previously showed that dietary CLA lowered prostaglandin (PG)E 2 and histamine release in response to antigen challenge (42) in a guinea pig model for type I (immediate) hypersensitivity, a standard model for studying asthma and allergies (12, 41). The mechanism by which CLA lower PGE 2 levels may be, at least in part, inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), the enzyme responsible for the initial steps in converting arachidonic acid into prostanoids [PG and thromboxanes (TX)] (2). CLA isomers are similar to linoleic acid (the precursor of arachidonic acid), except the double bonds are in a conjugated formation (i.e., a 1,3-diene, not methylene interrupted). This structural difference (a conjugated diene) in similar 20-C fatty acids has been shown to inhibit the enzymatic activity of COX in vitro as measured by PG production (28).For many years, prostanoids have been implicated in the pathogenesis of type I hypersensitivity disorders such as asthma. We hypothesized that feeding dietary CLA would decrease prostanoids and leukotrienes (LT) released in response to antigen challenge. A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method was used to quantify the prostanoids released from sensitized guinea pig tissues exposed to antigen in tissue baths. Stable products of each of the five possible pathways downstream of COX were analyzed. LT were quantified using a combination of LC/MS/MS and enzyme immunoassay. Previous investigation...