title: Vitamin E isoforms as modulators of lung inflammation.
abstract: Asthma and allergic diseases are complex conditions caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Clinical studies suggest a number of protective dietary factors for asthma, including vitamin E. However, studies of vitamin E in allergy commonly result in seemingly conflicting outcomes. Recent work indicates that allergic inflammation is inhibited by supplementation with the purified natural vitamin E isoform α-tocopherol but elevated by the isoform γ-tocopherol when administered at physiological tissue concentrations. In this review, we discuss opposing regulatory effects of α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol on allergic lung inflammation in clinical trials and in animal studies. A better understanding of the differential regulation of inflammation by isoforms of vitamin E provides a basis towards the design of clinical studies and diets that would effectively modulate inflammatory pathways in lung disease.
authors.affiliation: Allergy-Immunology Division, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, McGaw-M304, 240 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. j-cook-mills@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Hiam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdala-Valencia
authors.forename: Sergejs
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berdnikovs
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cook-Mills
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024504:gamma-Tocopherol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D024504:gamma-Tocopherol; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol