title: Vitamin E supplementation suppresses prostaglandin E1(2) synthesis and enhances the immune response of aged mice.
abstract: The potential for vitamin E to modulate prostaglandin metabolism and alter immune response in aged mice was studied. Semi-purified diets containing 30 ppm or 500 ppm dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (VitE) were fed for 6 weeks to young (3 months) and old (24 months) C57BL/6J mice. Delayed hypersensitivity skin test to DNFB and the proliferative response of splenocytes to T- and B-cell mitogens were assessed. Ex-vivo synthesis of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was measured in spleen homogenates and serum vitamin E was measured by HPLC. Vitamin E supplementation of aged mice enhanced percent ear swelling to DNFB as well as the mitogenic response of splenocytes to Con A and LPS (P less than 0.05). Furthermore, spleen homogenates from old mice fed 30 ppm VitE had a significantly higher PGE2 level than young mice fed 30 ppm VitE and old mice fed 500 ppm VitE (3.20 +/- 0.07 micrograms/g vs. 2.60 +/- 0.08 and 2.3 +/- 0.10, respectively). Thus, the vitamin E enhanced immune response of aged mice appears to be mediated by decreased prostaglandin synthesis.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000276:immunology; D015232:Dinoprostone; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D003208:Concanavalin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene; D015232:Dinoprostone