QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wu, D. Articles by Meydani, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wu, D. Articles by Meydani, M.

In Vitro Glutathione Supplementation Enhances Interleukin-2 Production and Mitogenic Response of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Young and Old Subjects^1,2,

Nutritional Immunology Laboratory ^* Antioxidant Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111

The effect of in vitro glutathione (GSH) supplementation on mitogenic response, interleukin-1, interleukin-2 and prostaglandin E₂ production, and cellular GSH level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy young and old human subjects was studied. In vitro addition of GSH increased cellular GSH level (P < 0.001). Glutathione supplementation at concentrations between 2 to 10 mmol/L enhanced lymphocyte proliferation but at low concentrations (0.5 and 1 mmol/L) decreased mitogenic response. Glutathione-induced enhancement of lymphocyte proliferation due to phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A was greater in the PBMC from old subjects than in those from young subjects. At optimal concentration (5 mmol), GSH increased interleukin-2 production (P < 0.05) and decreased prostaglandin E₂ and leukotriene B₄ production (P < 0.01) in both age groups. Furthermore, decreased PBMC mitogenic response by in vitro addition of prostaglandin E₂ was reversed by GSH supplementation. Glutathione did not have an effect on interleukin-1 production by PBMC from young subjects; however, GSH supplementation tended (P = 0.08) to increase interleukin-1 production by PBMC from old subjects. We conclude that GSH supplementation enhances T cell-mediated mitogenic response in young and old subjects. This effect is due at least in part to decreased eicosanoid production.

KEY WORDS: • glutathione • aging • humans • immune response

¹ Supported in part by USDA contract #53-3K06-1 and a gift from Nutri-Quest Inc. The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products or organizations imply endorsement by the United States government.

² The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 USC section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

³ To whom correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed.

Manuscript received 8 September 1993. Revision accepted 1 December 1993.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. G. Marko, T. Ahmed, S. C. Bunnell, D. Wu, H. Chung, B. T. Huber, and S. N. Meydani Age-Associated Decline in Effective Immune Synapse Formation of CD4+ T Cells Is Reversed by Vitamin E Supplementation J. Immunol., February 1, 2007; 178(3): 1443 - 1449. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Badinga and E. S. Greene Physiological Properties of Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Implications for Human Health Nutr Clin Pract, August 1, 2006; 21(4): 367 - 373. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. F. Grimble The Effects of Sulfur Amino Acid Intake on Immune Function in Humans J. Nutr., June 1, 2006; 136(6): 1660S - 1665S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]