Vitamin A supplementation leads to increases in regulatory CD4+Foxp3+LAP+ T cells in mice

• Vitamin A deficiency in mice led to increase in inflammatory cytokines in the gut.
• Vitamin A deficiency in mice resulted in decreased serum immunoglobulin G production.
• Dietary supplementation with vitamin A in mice led to increase in TGF-β-producing T cells.
• Dietary supplementation with vitamin A in mice led to immunomodulatory effects.

Dietary compounds, including micronutrients such as vitamin A and its metabolite retinoic acid, directly influence the development and function of the immune system. In this study, we show that either dietary deficiency of or supplementation with vitamin A had immunologic effects in mice that were fed these diets during their development (for 8 wk during the postweaning period). Deficient mice presented higher levels of interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-6, transforming growth factor-β, IL-17, and IL-10 in the gut-associated lymphoid tissues and draining lymph nodes, indicating a proinflammatory shift in the gut mucosa. Serum immunoglobulin G levels also were elevated in these mice. Conversely, supplemented mice showed higher frequencies of CD4+Foxp3+LAP+ regulatory T cells in gut lymphoid tissues and spleen, suggesting that vitamin A supplementation in the diet may be beneficial in pathologic situations such as inflammatory bowel diseases.