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Effects of vitamin C on intracytoplasmic cytokine production in human whole blood monocytes and lymphocytes.
- Source :
-
Cytokine [Cytokine] 2004 Aug 21-Sep 7; Vol. 27 (4-5), pp. 101-6. - Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- Background: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an essential water-soluble nutrient which primarily exerts its effect on immune homeostasis as physiological antioxidant. However, conflicting data exist regarding the effect of vitamin C on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.<br />Methods: It was the aim of this study to investigate the impact of vitamin C on intracytoplasmic production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in monocytes and lymphocytes by flow cytometry after human whole blood assay.<br />Results: Vitamin C dose dependently inhibited the LPS-induced number of monocytes producing IL-6 (e.g., 41.0% reduction, p < 0.001, 20 mM vitamin C) and TNF-alpha (e.g., 26.0% reduction, p < 0.005, 20 mM vitamin C). Simultaneously, the number of lymphocytes producing IL-2 after PMA/ionomycin stimulation was dose dependently reduced (e.g., 24.2% inhibition, p < 0.005, 20 mM vitamin C). Notably, the number of IL-1 and IL-8 producing monocytes as well as TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma producing lymphocytes were not significantly affected by 20 mM vitamin C.<br />Conclusions: These data suggest that vitamin C selectively influences intracytoplasmic cytokine production and therefore, further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of immunomodulation, i.e. regulation of NF kappa B activation which is mandatory for the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1043-4666
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 4-5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Cytokine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 15271375
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2004.02.004