Influence of Vitamin C on Lymphocytes: An Overview

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid (AA) is implicated in many biological processes and has been proposed as a supplement for various conditions, including cancer. In this review, we discuss the effects of AA on the development and function of lymphocytes. This is important in the light of cancer treatment,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antioxidants 2018-03, Vol.7 (3), p.41
Main Authors: van Gorkom, Gwendolyn N Y, Klein Wolterink, Roel G J, Van Elssen, Catharina H M J, Wieten, Lotte, Germeraad, Wilfred T V, Bos, Gerard M J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ascorbic acid
B cells
Cancer
Cell proliferation
Cell-mediated immunity
Chemotherapy
Cytotoxicity
Dietary supplements
Humoral immunity
Immune reconstitution
Immune system
Immunosuppressive agents
Influence
Leukocytes
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes B
Lymphocytes T
Natural killer cells
NK cells
Patients
Review
Stem cell transplantation
T cells
Vitamin C
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Summary:Vitamin C or ascorbic acid (AA) is implicated in many biological processes and has been proposed as a supplement for various conditions, including cancer. In this review, we discuss the effects of AA on the development and function of lymphocytes. This is important in the light of cancer treatment, as the immune system needs to regenerate following chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation, while cancer patients are often AA-deficient. We focus on lymphocytes, as these white blood cells are the slowest to restore, rendering patients susceptible to often lethal infections. T lymphocytes mediate cellular immunity and have been most extensively studied in the context of AA biology. In vitro studies demonstrate that T cell development requires AA, while AA also enhances T cell proliferation and may influence T cell function. There are limited and opposing data on the effects of AA on B lymphocytes that mediate humoral immunity. However, AA enhances the proliferation of NK cells, a group of cytotoxic innate lymphocytes. The influence of AA on natural killer (NK) cell function is less clear. In summary, an increasing body of evidence indicates that AA positively influences lymphocyte development and function. Since AA is a safe and cheap nutritional supplement, it is worthwhile to further explore its potential benefits for immune reconstitution of cancer patients treated with immunotoxic drugs.
ISSN:2076-3921
2076-3921
DOI:10.3390/antiox7030041