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T-cell-mediated enhancement of host-versus-graft reactivity in mice fed a diet enriched in vitamin A acetate

Nature volume 302, pages 338–340 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

Retinol (vitamin A) and some of its derivatives have an important role in: (1) regulating growth, proliferation and differentiation of various tissues and (2) maintaining reproduction and visual function in man and higher animals1–5. Vitamin A and retinoids are also known as potent immunoregulatory6–14 and antineoplastic agents15,16. Their ability to increase reactivity to histoincompatible tissues is well documented7,8,17 but the mechanism of this action is unclear. Here we report that mice fed on an otherwise conventional diet supplemented with vitamin A acetate (VAA) respond to 105 semiallogeneic cells (a suboptimal dose) in a host-versus-graft (HvG) reaction, whereas mice on a conventional diet do not. It is possible to transfer this enhanced immune reactivity by injecting lymphoid cells from VAA-fed animals into those syngeneic mice maintained on the conventional diet. Using a positive selection technique, we demonstrate that the phenotype of the cell probably responsible for this phenomenon is Lyt 1+ 2−.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Transplantation Biology Section, Clinical Research Centre, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ, UK

    Miroslav Malkovský, Andrew J. Edwards, Ruth Hunt, Lesley Palmer & Peter B. Medawar

Authors
  1. Miroslav Malkovský
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  2. Andrew J. Edwards
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  3. Ruth Hunt
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  4. Lesley Palmer
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  5. Peter B. Medawar
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Malkovský, M., Edwards, A., Hunt, R. et al. T-cell-mediated enhancement of host-versus-graft reactivity in mice fed a diet enriched in vitamin A acetate. Nature 302, 338–340 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/302338a0

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