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- Title
Vitamin E and immune response in the aged: molecular mechanisms and clinical implications.
- Authors
Simin Nikbin Meydani; Sung Nim Han; Dayong Wu
- Abstract
Nutritional status has been indicated as a contributing factor to age-related dysregulation of the immune response. Vitamin E, a lipid-soluble antioxidant vitamin, is important for normal function of the immune cells. The elderly are at a greater risk for vitamin E intake that is lower than recommended levels. Vitamin E supplementation above currently recommended levels has been shown to improve immune functions in the aged including delayed-type hypersensitivity skin response and antibody production in response to vaccination, which was shown to be mediated through increased production of interleukin (IL)-2, leading to enhanced proliferation of T cells, and through reduced production of prostaglandin E2, a T-cell suppressive factor, as a result of a decreased peroxynitrite formation. Vitamin E increased both cell-dividing and IL-producing capacities of naïve T cells, but not memory T cells. The vitamin E-induced enhancement of immune functions in the aged was associated with significant improvement in resistance to influenza infection in aged mice and a reduced risk of acquiring upper respiratory infections in nursing home residents. Further studies are needed to determine the signaling mechanisms involved in the upregulation of naïve T-cell function by vitamin E as well as the specific mechanisms involved in reduction of risk for upper respiratory infections.
- Subjects
OLDER people physiology; IMMUNE response; VITAMIN E; IMMUNOLOGY; ADULTS
- Publication
Immunological Reviews, 2005, Vol 205, Issue 1, p269
- ISSN
0105-2896
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.0105-2896.2005.00274.x