The Effect of Vitamin A Deficiency on the in Vitro Cellular Immune Response of Rats

Abstract

The effect of vitamin A deficiency on the response of splenic lymphocytes to mitogenic stimulation was determined in an experimental rat model. Male Lewis rats were divided into three groups. The ad libitum group (AL) was fed unlimited amounts of a vitamin A-supplemented diet. The vitamin A-deficient group (DEF) received a commercial vitamin A-free diet. The pair-fed group (PF) received a vitamin A-containing diet equivalent in amount to that consumed by the DEP group. During the early stages of vitamin A deficiency (determined by cessation of weight gain), the rats were killed and the isolated splenic lymphocytes subjected to mitogenic stimulation. Lymphocytes from DEF rats had one-third the transformation response to the mitogens Concanavalin A, Phytohemagglutinin and E. coli Lipopolysaccharide S of the AL and PF groups. When the DEF rats were supplemented with vitamin A, the transformation response returned to control values within 3 days. In addition to the alterations in the immune response, the DEF rats showed a marked leukopenia, a decrease in the number of circulating lymphocytes and an increase in the number of circulating neutrophils.

Vitamin A and immune function

“…Depressed cellular response to mitogens in vitamin A deficiency has been reported in rats (Nauss et al 1979) and chickens (Davis & Sell, 1983;Friedman & Sklan, 1989). We have shown (Fig.…”

“…These changes in the numbers of B-and T-cells are in line with the changes in the weights of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus respectively. An increase in the number of B-cells in spleen and lymph node has been observed in vitamin A-deficient mice , while a decreased number of B-cells has been found in spleens of vitamin A-deficient rats which also suffered from protein-energy malnutrition (Nauss et al 1979). Newcastle disease virus infection did not significantly increase the number of circulating B-or T-cells at the moment of measurement.…”

Effect of vitamin A deficiency on the immune response in obesity

“…In addition to its effect on the T-cells response, vitamin A deficiency also diminishes the activity of neutrophils, macrophages and natural killer cells (1,3,103) . Animal models have shown that chronic marginal vitamin A status decreases number of natural killer cells and lymphocytes, affects both T-cells distribution and function, and thus increases the risk of infections with aging (103)(104)(105) .…”

Vitamin A Deficiency and Immunity.

“…A deficiency in mice and rats did not affect lymph organ weight [51][52][53][54], except at the late stage of vitamin A deficiency at which cervical and mesenteric lymph node weights increased [52,53] The splenic lymphocyte yield (per mg of tissue) decreased in stationary and late stages of deficiency in rats (increased hematopoiesis ? ); whereas the cervical lymph node cell concentrations increased following the increase in organ weight at the late stage of deficiency; and weight, but not lymphocyte yield, increased in mesenteric lymph nodes.…”