Influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids on survival of skin allografts and tumor incidence in mice.

Subcutaneous or oral administration of the polyunsaturated fatty acid linoleic acid prolongs survival of skin allografts in mice. Mice fed on a diet deficient in polyunsaturated fatty acids show a relative immunopotentiation, as indicated by accelerated skin allograft rejection and decreased incidence and rate of development of methylcholanthrene-induced tumors. These observations support the hypothesis that polyunsaturated fatty acids take part in immunoregulatory mechanisms.