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The Effect of Vitamin A Supplementation on FoxP3 and TGF-β Gene Expression in Avonex-Treated Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Journal of Molecular Neuroscience volume 56, pages 608–612 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoinflammatory condition of the central nervous system with impaired T helper (Th)17 and regulatory T cell (Treg) balance that is involved in disease immunopathogenesis. The vitamin A active metabolite, retinoic acid, can re-establish this imbalance through the modulation of gene expression of specific nuclear receptors including Forkhead box P3 (FoxP3). At present, few data exist on the impact of vitamin A supplementation on T cell balance. This study reports the results of a clinical trial, over a 6-month period, of 36 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients that received vitamin A (25,000 IU retinyl palmitate) or placebo (one capsule of placebo per day). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from patients, and the expression of FoxP3 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β gene expression was measured using real-time PCR at the beginning and end of the study. The results of this study showed that vitamin A upregulated TGF-β and FoxP3 gene expression. Therefore, vitamin A supplementation can be considered as a new approach in MS prevention and treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Ali Akbar Saboor-Yaraghi, Niyaz Mohammadzadeh Honarvar, Mina Abdolahi & Fariba Koohdani

  2. Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Department of Neurology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Hossein Harirchian, Sama Bitarafan & Tina Roostaei

  3. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Feridoun Siassi

  4. Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Eisa Salehi

  5. Sina MS Research Center, Department of Neurology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Ali Sahraian

  6. Department of Biostatistic, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Eshraghian

  7. Food Microbiology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Ali Akbar Saboor-Yaraghi

Authors
  1. Ali Akbar Saboor-Yaraghi
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  2. Mohammad Hossein Harirchian
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  3. Niyaz Mohammadzadeh Honarvar
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  8. Mohammad Ali Sahraian
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Correspondence to Ali Akbar Saboor-Yaraghi or Fariba Koohdani.

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Saboor-Yaraghi, A., Harirchian, M.H., Mohammadzadeh Honarvar, N. et al. The Effect of Vitamin A Supplementation on FoxP3 and TGF-β Gene Expression in Avonex-Treated Multiple Sclerosis Patients. J Mol Neurosci 56, 608–612 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-015-0549-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-015-0549-y

Keywords

  • TGF-β
  • FoxP3
  • Gene expression
  • Vitamin A
  • Multiple sclerosis