The immunoregulatory role of vitamins A, D and E in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome.
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.
Szodoray
Peter
P
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
Horvath
Ildiko F
IF
Papp
Gabor
G
Barath
Sandor
S
Gyimesi
Edit
E
Csathy
Laszlo
L
Kappelmayer
Janos
J
Sipka
Sandor
S
Duttaroy
Asim K
AK
Nakken
Britt
B
Zeher
Margit
M
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*
D016207:Cytokines; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A; D016753:Interleukin-10; D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E