In vitro supplementation with different tocopherol homologues can affect the function of immune cells in old mice.

Alpha-tocophorel (T) is the most common form of vitamin E inplasma and tissues. Alpha-T is also believed to be superior to its homologues beta-T, gamma-T, and delta-T in antioxidant activity. Biological activity of alpha-T has been intensively studied in a number of bodily systems. In contrast, the other homologues have received little attention beyond the evaluation of their relative antioxidant activity. We as well as others have previously shown that alpha-T can enhance cell- mediated immune function of aged animals and humans. Gamma-T is a principal form of vitamin E in the American diet and some cooking oils contain substantial amount of beta-T and delta-T. Thus it is of public health interest to compare their biological effects with than of alpha-t in various systems. In this study, we used an in vitro supplementation protocol to determine immunologic effects of these T homologues on murine splenocytes. The results showed that all four T homologues enhance both spontaneous and mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation (LP) and the maximal enhancement produced by them was of the same magnitude. The dose range to produce maximal enhancement varied with different homologues. The efficiency was in the order of beta-T approximately delta-T > alpha-T. Interestingly, at 50 (optimal for alpha-T) and 150 micromol/L, while alpha-T enhanced LP, all the other homologues inhibited LP. This inhibition was found to be due to their cytotoxicity at these levels. T homologues had a differential effect on interleukin (IL)-2 and prostaglandin (PG)E(2) production. IL-2 production by mouse splenocytes was not affected by alpha-T or beta-T, but was increased by gamma-T and delta-T. All T homologues, except for beta-T, inhibited PGE(2) alpha-T. Thus, all the T homologues enhance LP. However, the dose required to reach maximal enhancement varies among the homologues. On the other hand, they have a differential effect on IL-2 and PGE(2) production. The difference in nature and magnitude of the effect on immune function does not correlate with their reported relative antioxidant activity and might be due to minor differences in their structure important to their other biological activities.