The dendritic and T cell responses to herpes simplex virus-1 are modulated by dietary vitamin E.
Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that dietary alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E, or VE) is essential for regulating the cytokine and chemokine response in the brain to herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection. The timing of T cell infiltration is critical to the resolution of central nervous system HSV-1 infections. Specifically, the appearance of "neuroprotective" CD8(+)IFN-gamma(+) T cells is crucial. During CNS infection, CD8(+) T cell priming and expansion in the draining lymph node, followed by recruitment and expansion, occurs in the spleen with subsequent accumulation in the brain. Weanling male BALB/cByJ mice were placed on VE-deficient (Def) or -adequate diets for 4 weeks followed by intranasal infection with HSV-1. VE-Def mice had fewer CD8(+)IFN-gamma(+) T cells trafficking to the brain despite increased CD8(+)IFN-gamma(+) T cells and activated dendritic cells in the periphery. VE-Def mice had increased T regulatory cells (Tregs) in the periphery and brain, and the increase in Tregs decreased CD8(+) T cell numbers in the brain. Our results demonstrate that adequate levels of VE are important for trafficking antigen-specific T cells to the brain, and dietary VE levels modulate T regulatory and dendritic cells in the periphery.
Sheridan
Patricia A
PA
Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. patricia_sheridan@med.unc.edu
Beck
Melinda A
MA
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D004032:Diet; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000276:immunology
D014810:Vitamin E