title: Dietary vitamin C down-regulates inflammatory gene expression in apoE4 smokers.
abstract: The deleterious impact of cigarette smoking on cardiovascular health may be in part attributable to a free radical mediated proinflammatory response in circulating monocytes. In the current investigation, the impact of vitamin C supplementation on monocyte gene expression was determined in apoE4 smokers versus non-smokers. A total of 10 smokers and 11 non-smokers consumed 60mg/day of vitamin C for four weeks and a fasting blood sample was taken at baseline and post-intervention for the determination of plasma vitamin C and monocyte gene expression profiles using cDNA array and real time PCR. In apoE4 smokers, supplementation resulted in a 43% increase in plasma vitamin C concentrations. Furthermore, a number of genes were differentially expressed more than 2-fold in response to treatment, including a downregulation of the proinflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor (TNF) beta, TNF receptor, neurotrophin-3 growth factor receptor, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 receptor. The study has identified a number of molecular mechanisms underlying the benefit of vitamin C supplementation in smokers.
authors.affiliation: Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AP, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Majewicz
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rimbach
authors.forename: Anna R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Proteggente
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lodge
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Minihane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000276:immunology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D001205:Ascorbic Acid