title: Changes in CD4+CD8-/CD4-CD8+ ratio and humoral immune functions in vitamin B12-deficient rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Funada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawanishi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kunou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tadokoro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maekawa
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C019476:mecobalamin; D014805:Vitamin B 12