Nutritional status and immune responses in mice with murine AIDS are normalized by vitamin E supplementation

Y. Wang, D. S. Huang, B. Liang, R. R. Watson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

Female C57BL/6 mice were infected with LP-BM5 retrovirus causing murine AIDS, which is functionally similar to human AIDS. Vitamin E effects on immune functions, cytokine production and nutritional concentrations in retrovirus-infected mice were determined. Retrovirus infection inhibited release of interleukin-2 (IL) and interferon-γ (IFN) and some immune functions, whereas it stimulated secretion of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) and immunoglobulin (Ig) production. Furthermore, retrovirus infection induced some nutritional deficiencies in the tissues. A 15-fold increase in dietary vitamin E largely restored concentrations of some micronutrients (vitamins A and E, zinc and copper) in the liver, intestine, serum and thymus. It also partially restored production of IL-2 and IFN-γ by splenocytes. Retrovirus-induced elevated production of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6 by splenocytes in vitro was normalized by vitamin E. Elevated release of IL-6, TNF-α, IgA and IgG produced by splenocytes in vitro during murine AIDS were also completely or partially normalized by vitamin E. Vitamin E also prevented retrovirus-induced suppression of splenocyte proliferation and natural killer cell activity. These data indicate that vitamin E supplementation during murine AIDS can help to ameliorate the disorders during murine AIDS, suggesting vitamin E usefulness in treatment of AIDS in humans.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2024-2032
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Nutrition
Volume124
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 1994
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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