title: Whether vitamin A supplementation is effective in T-bet and IFN-ɣ gene expression reduction?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of present study is evaluation of vitamin A supplementation efficacy on IFN-ɣ and T-bet gene expression in atherosclerotic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients and 15 healthy controls participated in this study. Healthy control and patients in Vitamin A group received 25 000 IU retinyl palmitate daily for 4 months. Control patients also received 1 pearl of placebo per day up to 4 months. Gene expression levels were assessed by real-time PCR using SYBR green detection method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IFN-γ gene expression in fresh cells of patients taking vitamin A declined slightly (0.85-fold, p = 0.068), whereas the expression of this gene was increased in patients taking placebo, and in healthy control subjects 1.2-fold (p = 0.267) and 1.7-fold (p = 0.580), respectively. There were no significant difference (p = 0.159) between 3 groups in terms of IFN-γ gene expression in cells stimulated with PHA. In order to determine whether PHA stimulation of PBMCs in vitro had an effect on T-bet expression, we measured the difference between the 3 groups of studied. The results showed significant differences between the groups (p = 0.046). IFN-γ gene expression in cells activated with ox-LDL in healthy control subjects and patients taking vitamin A, was reduced 0.43 (p = 0.0001) and 0.41 (p = 0.001) respectively, but in placebo patients was increased 2.2-fold (p = 0.959).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering role of vitamin A on suppression of Th1 cells in atherosclerotic patients, it can be concluded that vitamin A supplementation may be advantageous for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran .
authors.forename: Hashem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sezavar
authors.forename: Ali-Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Saboor-Yaraghi
authors.forename: Eisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mottaghi
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D014801:Vitamin A; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Atherosclerosis; IFN-ɣ; T-bet; gene expression; vitamin A