Vitamin C and E suppress mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
The antioxidant properties of vitamin C and E are considered to be important for their anti-inflammatory activity. Recently, antioxidant resveratrol was found to suppress neopterin production and tryptophan degradation in mitogen-treated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.


METHODS
In this study, the effects of vitamin C and E were investigated in unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in cells stimulated with the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A in vitro.


RESULTS
The mitogens induced a significant production of neopterin and a degradation of tryptophan. Vitamin C (0.1-10 microM) and E (5-100 microM) suppressed these immunobiological pathways in a dose-dependent way (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Neopterin production and tryptophan degradation in monocyte-derived macrophages are both triggered by the pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon-gamma. Thus, their concurrent suppression by vitamin C and E suggests an effect on the formation and release of this cytokine by stimulated T cells. These findings may be related to the general health benefits which are associated with the antioxidant nature of these vitamins.
Winkler
C
C
Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocentre, Innsbruck Medical University and Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for AIDS Research, Innsbruck, Austria.
Schroecksnadel
K
K
Schennach
H
H
Fuchs
D
D
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008934:Mitogens; D019798:Neopterin / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants; D008934:Mitogens; D014810:Vitamin E; D019798:Neopterin; D014364:Tryptophan; D001205:Ascorbic Acid