Vitamin A is known to protect against infections, but it is not established how vitamin A metabolites stimulate the immune system. We have investigated the effects of physiological levels of retinoic acid on the function of normal human T- and B-cells. Surprisingly, we found that the proliferation of B-cells was inhibited by retinoids, and that this was due to rapid inhibition of the cell cycle machinery regulating G1-to-S transition. In contrast, the proliferation of T-cells was enhanced by physiological levels of retinoic acid, and the effect was due to induction of IL-2 (interleukin 2). The ‘non-death-receptor’-mediated apoptosis of normal T-cells induced by prolonged (but single) stimulation of the cells was also prevented by retinoid acid, and also this effect was mediated via enhanced production of IL-2. The induction of IL-2 was at the transcriptional level, and all the effects of vitamin A on both B-and T-cells were mediated via the nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs), and not retinoid X receptors (RXRs).
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
November 2004
- Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
October 26 2004
Vitamin A regulates proliferation and apoptosis of human T- and B-cells
H.K. Blomhoff
H.K. Blomhoff
1
1Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1112, Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway
1email h.k.blomhoff@basalmed.uio.no
Search for other works by this author on:
Biochem Soc Trans (2004) 32 (6): 982–984.
Article history
Received:
June 18 2004
Citation
H.K. Blomhoff; Vitamin A regulates proliferation and apoptosis of human T- and B-cells. Biochem Soc Trans 1 November 2004; 32 (6): 982–984. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0320982
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.