Effect of beta-carotene and canthaxanthin on the immune responses of the rat.
Male Wistar Kyoto rats were fed diets containing either 2 g/kg (0.2%) beta-carotene, canthaxanthin or basal diet for up to 66 wk. Plasma and tissues were analyzed for vitamin A, vitamin E, beta-carotene or canthaxanthin levels. In vitro immune responses of splenocytes to T- and B-lymphocyte mitogens were determined. T- and B-lymphocyte responses were consistently enhanced in the groups fed beta-carotene or canthaxanthin. Since canthaxanthin cannot be converted to vitamin A, the immunoenhancement seen in these experiments is attributed to a carotenoid effect.
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016644:Canthaxanthin; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D019207:beta Carotene; D003208:Concanavalin A; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D016644:Canthaxanthin