title: The immunoregulatory role of vitamins A, D and E in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the immunomodulating role of fat-soluble vitamins in 25 patients with primary SS (pSS) and 15 healthy individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma levels of vitamins A, D and E were determined by HPLC. Peripheral NK, NK T cells, T-cell subsets, B cells, IL-10 producing Tr1 cells, CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells and Th17 were determined by flow cytometry. Various Th1- and Th2-soluble cytokines were assessed by ELISA, whereas intracytoplasmic cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-4, -10 and -17) were measured by flow cytometry. Correlation was assessed between vitamin levels and immunological and clinical parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitamin A levels did not differ between patients and controls, yet in patients with extraglandular manifestations (EGMs) a significant decrease in vitamin A levels was apparent compared with pSS patients without EGMs (P = 0.005). Vitamin E levels were increased in patients compared with controls (P = 0.004), whereas vitamin D levels were similar in pSS and control subjects. In patients, vitamin A showed a positive correlation with both NK cell (P = 0.038) and Th17 cell (P = 0.025), and a negative correlation with Schirmer's test values (P = 0.035). Positive correlation was found between vitamin E and NK cells (P = 0.043), Th1 cells (P = 0.049) and the Th1/Th2 ratio (P = 0.043). In the control group, we found correlation between vitamin E and serum IL-10 levels (P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that fat-soluble vitamins may be important in immunoregulatory processes in patients with pSS.
authors: 3rd Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Medical and Health Science Centre, University of Debrecen, Moricz Zs. str. 22, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary. szodoray@gmail.com
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Szodoray
authors: Ildiko F
authors: IF
authors: Horvath
authors: Gabor
authors: G
authors: Papp
authors: Sandor
authors: S
authors: Barath
authors: Edit
authors: E
authors: Gyimesi
authors: Laszlo
authors: L
authors: Csathy
authors: Janos
authors: J
authors: Kappelmayer
authors: Sandor
authors: S
authors: Sipka
authors: Asim K
authors: AK
authors: Duttaroy
authors: Britt
authors: B
authors: Nakken
authors: Margit
authors: M
authors: Zeher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000276:immunology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000276:immunology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000276:immunology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A; D016753:Interleukin-10; D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E