A Pivotal Role of Vitamin B9 in the Maintenance of Regulatory T Cells In Vitro and In Vivo (original) (raw)
Figure 5
Depletion of dietary vitamin B9 selectively reduces Treg cells in the small intestine.
Mice were maintained on a control [Vit B9(+)] or vitamin B9-depleted [Vit B9(−)] diet for 8 wk. (A) Vitamin B9 concentrations were measured in intestinal washes of the small intestine (SI), large intestine (LI), and serum. The data are mean ± SEM (n = 6). (B, C) The frequency and cell numbers of Foxp3+ and Foxp3− CD4+ T cells in the small intestine (B), colon, and spleen (C) were calculated using the total cell number and flow cytometric data (mean ± SEM, n = 6). (D) Flow cytometric analysis was performed to determine the expression levels of Foxp3, CTLA4, and GITR on the surface of FR4low/− (thin line) and FR4hi (thick line) CD4+ T cells in the LP. Similar results were obtained from 3 separate experiments.