Immunologic and anti-immunosuppressive effects of vitamin A.
The effects of vitamin A alcohol on cell-mediated immunity in vitro and its ability to prevent the immunosuppressive effects of prednisolone and cyclophosphamide in vivo were studied in mice. Lymphocytes from Calmette-Guérin bacillus (BCG) sensitized mice were stimulated specifically with purified protein derivative (PPD) and nonspecifically with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). In the vitamin A injected animals there was significant enhancement of the spleen lymphocyte transformation not only in the PPD-sensitive cells but also in the T cells at large. In addition, vitamin A was able to restore to normal the cellular and humoral forms of immunity in prednisolone and cyclophosphamide-treated animals. It is suggested that vitamin A in nontoxic doses may have a role in enhancing the responses to weak immunogens and in reversing immunosuppression.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D014801:Vitamin A; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone