Abstract
β-Carotene and certain other carotenoids are now known to exert multiple protective effects on functions of the cellular immune system. Carotenoids diminish the immunosuppressive effects of UV light, provide resistance against neoplastic development, and reduce the immunosuppressive effects of aging. Aims of this review are to examine how current knowledge of the immunoprotective properties of carotenoids was acquired, to identify gaps in our understanding of this subject, and to propose areas for future research.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Alexander, M., Newmark, H., and Miller, R. G., 1985, Oral beta carotene can increase the number of OKT4+ cells in human blood, Immunol. Lett. 9: 221–224.
Anderson, R., and Theron, A. J., 1990, Physiological potential of ascorbate, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol individually and in combination in the prevention of tissue damage, carcinogenesis and immune dysfunction mediated by phagocyte-derived reactive oxidants, in: Aspects of Some Vitamins, Minerals and Enzymes in Health and Disease (G. H. Bourne, ed.), Karger, Basel, pp. 27–58.
Anonymous, 1848, The vegetarian movement, Punch 15: 182.
Bendich, A., ’1988}, Antioxidant vitamins and immune responses, in: Nutrition and Immunology (R. K. Chandra, ed.), Liss, New York, pp. 125–147.
Bendich, A., 1989, Carotenoids and the immune response, J. Nutr. 119: 112–115.
Bjelke, E., 1975, Dietary vitamin A and human lung cancer, Int. J. Cancer 15: 561–565.
Bolognia, J., Murray, M., and Pawelek, J., 1989, UV-B-induced melanogenesis may be mediated through the MSH-receptor system, J. Invest. Dermatol. 92: 651–656.
Burton, G. W., 1989, Antioxidant action of carotenoids, J. Nutr. 119: 109–111.
Burton, G. W., and Ingold, K. U., 1984, Beta-carotene: An unusual type of lipid anti-oxidant, Science 224: 569–573.
Clausen, S. W., 1931, Carotinemia and resistance to infections, Trans. Am. Pediatr. Soc. 43: 27–30.
Colditz, G. A., Branch, L. G., Lipnick, R. J., Willett, W. C., Rosner, B., Posner, B. M., and Hennekens, D. H., 1985, Increased green and yellow vegetable intake and lowered cancer deaths in an elderly population, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 41: 32–36.
Cruz, P. D., Jr., Simon, J. C., Gerometta, J., Takashima, A., and Bergstreser, P. R., 1991, Effects of UVB radiation on antigen processing and presentation, 19th Annu. Meet. Soc. Photobiol. (Abstr.).
Damianovich, S., and Pieri, C., 1991, Electroimmunology: Membrane potential, ion-channel activities, and stimulatory signal transduction in human T lymphocytes from young and elderly, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 621: 29–39.
DeFabo, E. C., and Noonan, F. P., 1983, Mechanisms of immune suppression by ultraviolet light in vivo, J. Exp. Med. 157: 84–98.
Fork, D. C., 1989, Photosynthesis, in: The Science of Photobiology, 2nd ed. (K. C. Smith, ed.), Plenum Press, New York, pp. 348–355.
Fuller, C. J., Faulkner, H., Parker, R., and Roe, D. A., 1991, Effect of β-carotene on the photosuppression of cellular immune function in normal males, FASEB J. 5:A1323 (Abstr. 5528).
Fuller, C. J., Faulker, H., Bendich, A., Parker, R. S., and Roe, D. A., 1992, Effect of β-carotene supplementation on photosuppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity in normal young men, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 56: 654–690.
Gensler, H. L., 1989, Reduction of immunosuppression in UV-irradiated mice by dietary retinyl palmitate plus canthaxanthin, Carcinogenesis 10: 203–207.
Gilman-Sachs, A., Kim, Y. B., Pollard, M., and Snyder, D. L., 1991, Influence of aging, environmental antigens and dietary restriction on expression of lymphocyte subsets in germ-free and conventional Lobund-Wistar rats, J. Gerontol. 46:B101–B106.
Goodman, D. S., and Huang, H. S., 1965, Biosynthesis of vitamin A with rat intestinal enzymes, Science 149: 879–880.
Graham, S., 1983, Results of case-control studies of diet and cancer in Buffalo, New York, Cancer Res. 43:S2409–S2453.
Granstein, R. D., 1990, Photoimmunology, in: Seminars in Dermatology, Vol. 9 (H. I. Maibach, ed.), Saunders, Philadelphia, pp. 16–24.
Green, H. N., and Mellanby, E., 1930, Carotene and vitamin A: The anti-infective action of carotene, Br. J. Exp. Pathol 11: 81–89.
Hadfield, G., and Garrod, L. F., 1947, Recent Advances in Pathology, 5th ed., Churchill, London, pp. 81–84.
Hersey, P., Haran, G., Hasic, E., and Edwards, A., 1983, Alteration of T-cell subsets and induction of suppressor T-cell activity in normal subjects after exposure to sunlight, J. Immunol. 31: 171–174.
Hersey, P., Noltorp, R., and Wilkinson, F. J., 1991, Effects of UV-A on natural killer (NK) cell activity, antigen presenting cells and induction of suppressor cells, 19th Annu. Meet. Am. Soc. Photobiol. (Abstr.).
Holman, C. D. J., Armstrong, B. K., and Heenan, P. J., 1986, Relationship of cutaneous malignant melanoma to individual sunlight-exposure habits, J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 76: 403–414.
Koh, H. K., 1991, Cutaneous melanoma, N. Engl. J. Med. 325: 171–182.
Kuh, C., 1932, A study of vitamin A in relation to experimental cancer, Yale J. Biol. Med. 5: 123–126.
Lambe, W., 1815, Water and Vegetable Diet in Consumption, Scrofula, Cancer, Asthma and other Chronic Diseases, Fowler & Wells, New York (1851); London edition (1815).
Ley, R. D., Applegate, L. A., Padilla, R. S., and Stuart, T. D., 1989, Ultraviolet radiation-induced malignant melanoma in Monodelphis domestica, Photochem. Photobiol. 50: 1–5.
McGrath, H., Wilson, W. A., and Scopelitis, E., 1986, Acute effects of low fluence ultraviolet light on T-lymphocyte subsets, Photochem. Photobiol. 43: 627–631.
Magnus, I. A., Jarrett, A., Prankert, A. J., and Rimington, C., 1961, Erythropoietic protoporphyria: A new porphyria syndrome with solar urticaria due to protoporphyrinaemia, Lancet 2: 448–451.
Makinodan, T., Lubinski, J., and Fong, T. C., 1987, Cellular, biochemical and molecular basis of T-cell senescence, Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 111: 910–914.
Mathews-Roth, M. M., 1989, Beta carotene, canthaxanthin and phytoene, in: Nutrion and Cancer Prevention: Investigating the Role of Micronutrients (T. E. Moon and M. S. Micozzi, eds.), Dekker, New York, pp. 273–290.
Mathews-Roth, M. M., Pathak, M. A., Fitzpatrick, T. B., et al., 1970, Beta carotene as a protective agent in erythropoietic protoporphyria, N. Engl. J. Med. 282: 1231–1234.
Mathews-Roth, M. M., Pathak, M. A., Fitzpatrick, T. B., et al., 1974, Beta carotene as an oral photoprotective agent in erythropoietic protoporphyria, J. Am. Med. Assoc. 228: 1004–1008.
Mathews-Roth, M. M., Pathak, M. A., Fitzpatrick, T. B., Harber, L. H., and Kass, E. H., 1977, Beta carotene therapy in erythropoietic protoporphyria and other photosensitivity diseases, Arch. Dermatol. 113: 1229–1232.
Meydani, S. N., Barklund, M. P., Liu, S., Meydani, M., Miller, R. A., Cannon, J. G., Morrow, F. D., Rocklin, R., and Blumberg, J. B., 1990, Vitamin E supplementation enhances cell-mediated immunity in healthy elderly subjects, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 52: 557–563.
Moore, T., 1930, Vitamin A and carotene. VI. The conversion of carotene to vitamin A in vivo, Biochem. J. 24: 692–702.
Morison, W. L., 1989, Effects of ultraviolet radiation on the immune system in humans, Photochem. Photobiol. 50: 515–524.
MRC, 1949, Vitamin A requirement of human adults. An experimental study of vitamin A deprivation in man, MRC 264, HMSO, London, p. 23.
Noonan, F. P., Kripke, M. L., Pederson, G. M., and Greene, M. I., 1981, Suppression of contact hypersensitivity by ultraviolet irradiation is associated with defective antigen presentation, Immunology 43: 527–533.
Olcott, H. S., and McCann, D. C., 1931, Carotenase: The transformation of carotene to vitamin A in vitro, Science 74: 414.
Olson, J. A., Carotenoids, vitamin A and cancer, J. Nutr. 116: 1127–1130.
Olson, J. A., and Hayaishi, O., 1965, The enzymatic cleavage of beta carotene into vitamin A, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 54: 1364–1369.
Penn, N. D., Purkins, L., Kelleher, J., Heatley, R. V., Mascie-Taylor, B. H., and Belfield, P. W., 1991, The effect of dietary supplementation with vitamins A, C and E on cell-mediated immune function in elderly long-stay patients: A randomized controlled trial, Age Ageing 20: 169–174.
Pesek, C. A., and Warthesen, J. J., 1987, Photodegradation of carotenoids in a vegetable juice system, J. Food Sci. 52: 744–746.
Pesek, C. A., and Warthesen, J. J., 1988, Characterization of the photodegradation of beta-carotene in aqueous model systems, J. Food Sci. 53: 1517–1520.
Peto, R., Doll, R., Buckley, J. D., and Sporn, M. B., 1981, Can dietary beta carotene materially reduce human cancer rates? Nature 290: 201–208.
Prabhala, R. H., Maxey, V., Hicks, M. J., and Watson, R. R., 1989, Enhancement of the expression of activation markers on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by in vitro culture with retinoids and carotenoids, J. Leukocyte Biol. 45: 249–254.
Prabhala, R. H., Garewal, H. S., Hicks, M. J., Sampliner, R. E., and Watson, R. R. 1991, The effects of 13-cis-retinoic acid and beta-carotene on cellular immunity in humans, Cancer 67: 1556–1560.
Richmond, A., and Thomas, H. G., 1988, Melanoma growth stimulatory activity: Isolation from human melanoma tumors and characterization of tissue distribution, J. Cell. Biochem. 36: 185–198.
Roe, D. A., 1986, History of promotion of vegetable cereal diets, J. Nutr. 116: 1355–1363.
Schoen, D. J., and Watson, R. R., 1988, Prevention of UV irradiation induced suppression of monocyte functions by retinoids and carotenoids in vitro, Photochem. Photobiol. 5: 659–663.
Schwartz, T., Urbanska, A., Gschnait, F., and Luger, T. A., 1987, UV-irradiated epidermal cells produce a specific inhibitor of IL-1 activity, J. Immunol. 138: 1457–1463.
Seifter, E., Rettura, G., and Levenson, S. M., 1981, Carotenoids and cell mediated immune responses, in: The Quality of Foods and Beverages (G. Charalambors and G. Inglett, eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 335–347.
Seifter, E., Rettura, G., Padawer, J., and Levenson, S. M., 1982, Moloney murine sarcoma virus tumors in CBA/J mice: Chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic actions of supplemental beta carotene, Natl. Cancer Inst. 68: 835–840.
Spellman, C. W., and Daynes, R. A., 1977, Modification of immunologic potential by ultraviolet radiation. II. Generation of suppressor cells in short term UV irradiated mice, Transplantation 24: 120–126.
Stich, H. F., Mathew, B., Sankarayanan, R., and Krishnan Nair, M., 1991, Vitamin A and beta carotene: Long term protective effects in oral leukoplakia, in: Vitamins and Cancer Prevention (S. A. Laidlaw and M. E. Swendseid, eds.), Wiley-Liss, New York, pp. 15–24.
Tomita, Y., Himeno, K., Momoto, K., Endo, H., and Hirohata, T., 1987, Augmentation of tumor immunity against syngeneic tumors in mice by beta carotene, J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 78: 679–681.
Verma, A. K., 1991, Modulation of carcinogenesis by vitamin A and its analogs (retinoids), in: Vitamins and Cancer Prevention (S. A. Laidlaw and M. E. Swendseid, eds.), Wiley-Liss, New York, pp. 25–37.
Walter, S. D., Marrett, L. D., From, L., Hertzman, C., Shannon, H. S., and Roy, P. 1990, The association of cutaneous malignant melanoma with the use of sunbeds and sunlamps, Am. J. Epidemiol. 131: 232–243.
Wang, C. Q., Kripke, M. L., and Fidler, I. J., 1990, Ultraviolet-B-irradiated mouse epidermis releases mediators that stimulate melanoma cells, Photodermatol. Photoimmunol. Photomed. 7: 128–135.
Watson, R. R., Prabhala, R. H., Plezia, P. M., and Alberts, D. S., 1991, Effects of beta-carotene on lymphocyte subpopulations in elderly humans: Evidence for a dose response relationship, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 53: 90–94.
White, W. S., Kim, C.-L, Kalkwarf, H. J., Bustos, P., and Roe, D. A., 1988, Ultraviolet light induced reductions in plasma carotenoid levels, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 47: 879–883.
Wolf, G., 1982, Is dietary beta carotene an anti-cancer agent? Nutr. Rev. 9: 257–261.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Roe, D.A., Fuller, C.J. (1993). Carotenoids and Immune Function. In: Klurfeld, D.M. (eds) Nutrition and Immunology. Human Nutrition. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2900-2_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2900-2_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6257-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-2900-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive