Vitamin A supplementation leads to increases in regulatory CD4+Foxp3+LAP+ T cells in mice

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2015-10, Vol.31 (10), p.1260-1265
• Main Authors: Medeiros, Samara R., Ph.D, Pinheiro-Rosa, Natalia, B.Sc, Lemos, Luisa, M.A, Loli, Flavia G., B.Sc, Pereira, Alline G., B.Sc, Santiago, Andrezza F., Ph.D, Pinter, Ester C, Alves, Andrea C., Ph.D, Oliveira, Jamil S., B.Sc, Cara, Denise C., Ph.D, Maioli, Tatiani U., Ph.D, Faria, Ana Maria C., M.D., Ph.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Chromatography; Colon; Cytokines; Dietary Supplements; Enzymes; Female; Forkhead Transcription Factors - metabolism; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Immune system; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulins; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Interleukin-17 - metabolism; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Intestines - immunology; Lymph nodes; Lymphocytes; Lymphoid Tissue - metabolism; Metabolites; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Micronutrients; Regulatory T cells; Retinoic acid; Software; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - metabolism; TGF-β; Transforming Growth Factor beta - metabolism; Vitamin A; Vitamin A - pharmacology; Vitamins - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2015.03.004

Abstract Dietary compounds, including micronutrients such as vitamin A and its metabolite retinoic acid, directly influence the development and function of the immune system. In this study, we show that either dietary deficiency of or supplementation with vitamin A had immunologic effects in mice that were fed these diets during their development (for 8 wk during the postweaning period). Deficient mice presented higher levels of interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-6, transforming growth factor-β, IL-17, and IL-10 in the gut-associated lymphoid tissues and draining lymph nodes, indicating a proinflammatory shift in the gut mucosa. Serum immunoglobulin G levels also were elevated in these mice. Conversely, supplemented mice showed higher frequencies of CD4+Foxp3+LAP+ regulatory T cells in gut lymphoid tissues and spleen, suggesting that vitamin A supplementation in the diet may be beneficial in pathologic situations such as inflammatory bowel diseases.