Vitamin B-12-deficiency affects immunoglobulin production and cytokine levels in mice.
To clarify the role of B-12 in the immunological function, serum C3, IgM, IgG, IgE contents, splenocytes expression of CD4, CD8, and CD4 positive intracellular IFN-gamma and IL-4 were examined in B-12-deficient mice, and the effect of the administration of CH3-B-12 was also studied. Serum C3, IgM and IgG contents were lower in B-12-deficient mice than in the control mice. On the other hand, serum IgE content was significantly higher in B-12-deficient mice, and the value in CH3-B-12 administered mice, administered CH3-B-12 to B-12-deficient mice for 48 h before the end of feeding period, showed a tendency to recovery. CD4+CD8- cells and CD4+CD8-/CD4-CD8+ ratio in splenocytes were significantly higher in B-12-deficient mice than in control mice. CD4+IFN-gamma+ cells was significantly lower in B-12-deficient mice than in control mice, and CD4+IL-4+ was significantly higher in B-12-deficient mice than in control mice. These results suggest that B-12-deficiency causes CD4+CD8-T cells shift from the T helper type 1 to the T helper type 2, which participate in the IgE production and elevates CD4+CD8-/CD4-CD8+ ratio. Thus, B-12 plays a role in maintaining the immune function in mice.
Faculty of Applied Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan.
U
U
Funada
M
M
Wada
T
T
Kawata
K
K
Mori
H
H
Tamai
T
T
Isshiki
J
J
Onoda
N
N
Tanaka
T
T
Tadokoro
A
A
Maekawa
D000818:Animals; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood*; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015847:Interleukin-4; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
D003176:Complement C3; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D014805:Vitamin B 12