title: Can vitamin a mediate immunity and inflammation?
abstract: Vitamins are natural components of foods and are organic compounds distinct from fat, carbohydrates and proteins. Vitamin A is the generic descriptor for compounds with the qualitative biological activity of retinol. Unlike beta-carotene, vitamin A is not an antioxidant and its benefit is related to possible boosting of immune reactions. The effect of vitamin A on immune function is wide-reaching and its deficiency appears to affect immunity in several ways. Innate and adaptive immune responses are affected in some way by lack of vitamin A. Retinoids seem to act on differentiation of lymphocytes, antibody production, phagocytosis of macrophages, NK, Treg, and T helper cell activity. In addition, in humans, signs of a vitamin A deficiency also include the dysregulation of cytokine/chemokine generation and release. However, excess of vitamin A has been demonstrated to have toxic effects in most species studied. Here we summarize some important effects of vitamin A in immunity and inflammation.
authors: Department of Surgery and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Spinas
authors: Department of Dermatology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Saggini
authors: Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece.
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Kritas
authors: Nicolas Foundation, Onlus, Arezzo, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Cerulli
authors: Orthopedic Division, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Caraffa
authors: Orthopedic Division, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Antinolfi
authors: Orthopedic Division, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Pantalone
authors: Aristotelian University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Frydas
authors: Nicolas Foundation, Onlus, Arezzo, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Tei
authors: Nicolas Foundation, Onlus, Arezzo, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Speziali
authors: Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, G. dAnnunzio University Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Saggini
authors: Catholic University of Rome, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Pandolfi
authors: Immunology Division, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Conti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000276:immunology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids