Long-term dietary vitamin E retards development of retrovirus-induced disregulation in cytokine production.

A 15-fold increase in dietary vitamin E (160 IU/liter) normalized hepatic and serum levels of vitamin E normally reduced by retrovirus infection. It also significantly retarded development of splenomegaly and hypergammaglobulinemia induced by retrovirus infection, while significantly restoring release of interleukin-2 (IL) and interferon-gamma by splenocytes which are suppressed by retrovirus infection. Retrovirus infection elevated production of IL-4 and IL-6 by splenocytes, but this elevation was inhibited by vitamin E. Increased levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha produced by splenocytes during progression to murine AIDS were also inhibited by vitamin E. Vitamin E supplementation also helped restore retrovirus-suppressed splenocyte proliferation. These data indicate that vitamin E supplementation can help overcome retrovirus-induced reduction in tissue vitamin E, modulate cytokine release, and normalize immune dysfunctions during progression to murine AIDS.