Immunologic and Anti-Immunosuppressive Effects of Vitamin A

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Abstract
The effects of vitamin A alcohol on cell-mediated immunity in vitro and its ability to prevent the immunosuppressive effects of prednisolone and cyclophosphamide in vivo were studied in mice. Lymphocytes from BCG sensitized mice were stimulated specifically with purified protein derivative (PPD) and nonspecifically with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). In the vitamin A injected animals there was significant enhancement of the spleen lymphocyte transformation not only in the PPD-sensitive cells but also in the T cells at large. Vitamin A was able to restore to normal the cellular and humoral forms of immunity in prednisolone and cyclophosphamide-treated animals. Vitamin A in nontoxic doses may have a role in enhancing the responses to weak immunogens and reversing immunosuppression.