Influence of Vitamin C on Lymphocytes: An Overview
1
Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6202AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
2
Department of Transplantation Immunology, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Antioxidants 2018, 7(3), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox7030041
Received: 8 February 2018 / Revised: 6 March 2018 / Accepted: 8 March 2018 / Published: 10 March 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vitamin C: Current Concepts in Human Physiology)
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.
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Keywords:
vitamin C; ascorbic acid; lymphocytes; natural killer cells; NK cells; B cells; T cells
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MDPI and ACS Style
Van Gorkom, G.N.Y.; Klein Wolterink, R.G.J.; Van Elssen, C.H.M.J.; Wieten, L.; Germeraad, W.T.V.; Bos, G.M.J. Influence of Vitamin C on Lymphocytes: An Overview. Antioxidants 2018, 7, 41. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox7030041
AMA Style
Van Gorkom GNY, Klein Wolterink RGJ, Van Elssen CHMJ, Wieten L, Germeraad WTV, Bos GMJ. Influence of Vitamin C on Lymphocytes: An Overview. Antioxidants. 2018; 7(3):41. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox7030041
Chicago/Turabian StyleVan Gorkom, Gwendolyn N.Y.; Klein Wolterink, Roel G.J.; Van Elssen, Catharina H.M.J.; Wieten, Lotte; Germeraad, Wilfred T.V.; Bos, Gerard M.J. 2018. "Influence of Vitamin C on Lymphocytes: An Overview" Antioxidants 7, no. 3: 41. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox7030041
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