Influence of Vitamin C on Lymphocytes: An Overview

Abstract

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid (AA) is implicated in many biological processes and has been proposed as a supplement for various conditions, including cancer. In this review, we discuss the effects of AA on the development and function of lymphocytes. This is important in the light of cancer treatment, as the immune system needs to regenerate following chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation, while cancer patients are often AA-deficient. We focus on lymphocytes, as these white blood cells are the slowest to restore, rendering patients susceptible to often lethal infections. T lymphocytes mediate cellular immunity and have been most extensively studied in the context of AA biology. In vitro studies demonstrate that T cell development requires AA, while AA also enhances T cell proliferation and may influence T cell function. There are limited and opposing data on the effects of AA on B lymphocytes that mediate humoral immunity. However, AA enhances the proliferation of NK cells, a group of cytotoxic innate lymphocytes. The influence of AA on natural killer (NK) cell function is less clear. In summary, an increasing body of evidence indicates that AA positively influences lymphocyte development and function. Since AA is a safe and cheap nutritional supplement, it is worthwhile to further explore its potential benefits for immune reconstitution of cancer patients treated with immunotoxic drugs.

A Novel Combination of Vitamin C, Curcumin and Glycyrrhizic Acid Potentially Regulates Immune and Inflammatory Response Associated with Coronavirus Infections: A Perspective from System Biology Analysis

“…The literature has shown that VCG Plus (phyto-) nutrients positively regulate T-cells. For instance, VC positively influences lymphocyte development and function, and enhances T-cell proliferation and T-cell function [14,78]. CC could target regulatory T-cells and convert them into CD4+ Th1 cells to process anti-tumor effects [79,80], and improve the imbalance of Th1/Th2 subsets to process anti-inflammatory and anti-autoimmune effects [27,81].…”

Reduced Plasma Ascorbic Acid Levels in Recipients of Myeloablative Conditioning & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

“…35,36 Vitamin C has thus been suggested as a mediator of enhanced immune reconstitution. 37 Indeed, in a GVHD murine model, vitamin C stabilizes alloreactive T regulatory cells by demethylation of the FoxP3 promoter, the intronic cis-regulatory elements on DNA molecules. 38 Ascorbic acid is also a cofactor for the enzyme ten-eleven translocation (TET) which mediates promoter hypomethylation of the FOX P3 locus amongst other loci involved in hematopoiesis.…”

An Update on Current Therapeutic Drugs Treating COVID-19

“…Many studies showed that vitamin C positively affects the development and maturation of T lymphocytes and NK (natural killer) cells involved in the immune response to viral agents. It also contributes to the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and to the remodulation of the cytokine network typical of systemic inflammatory syndrome [79]. Given this background, a phase II clinical trial (NCT04264533) is initiated in China to evaluate high-dose IV vitamin C in ICU patients with severe COVID-19-associated pneumonia [80].…”