Changes in CD4+CD8-/CD4-CD8+ ratio and humoral immune functions in vitamin B12-deficient rats.
To clarify the role of vitamin B12 in the function of cell-mediated and humoral immune functions, the splenocytes expression of CD4, CD8 and serum C3, IgM, IgG concentrations were examined in vitamin B12-deficient rats, and the effect of the administration of methylcobalamin was also studied. The CD4+CD8-/CD4-CD8+ ratio in splenocytes was significantly higher in vitamin B12-deficient rats than in control rats (p < 0.05). The value in the 48 hours after methylcobalamin administration group, was within the normal range (p < 0.05). From these results, the elevation of the CD4+CD8-/CD4-CD8+ ratio by vitamin B12-deficiency was confirmed in rats. The serum C3, IgM and IgG concentrations were lower in the vitamin B12-deficient group than in the control group. These findings suggest that vitamin B12 plays a role in maintaining the immune function in rats.
Funada
U
U
Faculty of Applied Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan.
Wada
M
M
Kawata
T
T
Mori
K
K
Tamai
H
H
Kawanishi
T
T
Kunou
A
A
Tanaka
N
N
Tadokoro
T
T
Maekawa
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar / Q000276:immunology; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
D003176:Complement C3; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C019476:mecobalamin; D014805:Vitamin B 12