Dietary vitamin C down-regulates inflammatory gene expression in apoE4 smokers

Jonathan Majewicz, Gerald Rimbach, Anna R. Proteggente, John K. Lodge, Klaus Kraemer, Anne M Minihane

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The deleterious impact of cigarette smoking on cardiovascular health may be in part attributable to a free radical mediated proinflammatory response in circulating monocytes. In the current investigation, the impact of vitamin C supplementation on monocyte gene expression was determined in apoE4 smokers versus non-smokers. A total of 10 smokers and 11 non-smokers consumed 60 mg/day of vitamin C for four weeks and a fasting blood sample was taken at baseline and post-intervention for the determination of plasma vitamin C and monocyte gene expression profiles using cDNA array and real time PCR. In apoE4 smokers, supplementation resulted in a 43% increase in plasma vitamin C concentrations. Furthermore, a number of genes were differentially expressed more than 2-fold in response to treatment, including a downregulation of the proinflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor (TNF) β, TNF receptor, neurotrophin-3 growth factor receptor, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 receptor. The study has identified a number of molecular mechanisms underlying the benefit of vitamin C supplementation in smokers.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)951-955
Number of pages5
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume338
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Dec 2005

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