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

Majewicz, J., Rimbach, G., Proteggente, A.R., Lodge, J.K., Kraemer, K. and Minihane, A.M. (2005) Dietary vitamin C down-regulates inflammatory gene expression in apoE4 smokers. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 338 (2). pp. 951-955. ISSN 0006-291X doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.10.029

Abstract/Summary

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) beta, TNF receptor, neurotrophin-3 growth factor receptor, and monocyte chemoattractant protein I receptor. The study has identified a number of molecular mechanisms underlying the benefit of vitamin C supplementation in smokers. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.