The influence of vitamin A supplementation on Foxp3 and TGF-β gene expression in atherosclerotic patients.
The aim of this study was to investigate the role of vitamin A in Foxp3 and TGF-β gene expression in atherosclerotic patients. Patients and healthy controls in the vitamin A group received 25,000 IU retinyl palmitate per day, while patients in the placebo group took one capsule of placebo per day for 4 months. Gene expressions of regulatory T cells were studied by real-time PCR. The levels of Foxp3 expression in phytohemagglutinin-activated cells were much higher in the patients who received vitamin A than in placebo-treated patients and healthy controls, while Foxp3 gene expression in oxidized low-density lipoprotein-activated cells showed no significant differences between all groups (p=0.357). A significant difference in the expression level of TGF-β gene in fresh cells was observed between patients and healthy controls (p=0.009). TGF-β gene expression in oxidized low-density lipoprotein-activated cells increased in all groups; however, these changes were not statistically significant (p=0.65); the changes obtained were 2.8-, 2.2- and 3.9-fold in the vitamin A, placebo, and control groups, respectively. Based on suppressing actions of regulatory T cells on effector T cells and findings that show that vitamin A has the effect of increasing expression of regulatory T cells, it can be concluded that supplementation with vitamin A in atherosclerotic patients may be effective in slowing disease progression.
Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Azadeh
A
Mottaghi
Eisa
E
Salehi
Ali
A
Keshvarz
Hashem
H
Sezavar
Ali-Akbar
AA
Saboor-Yaraghi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004224:Diterpenes; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D004224:Diterpenes; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D010919:Placebos; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate