Vitamin C and immune cell function in inflammation and cancer

Biochem Soc Trans. 2018 Oct 19;46(5):1147-1159. doi: 10.1042/BST20180169. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Abstract

Vitamin C (ascorbate) is maintained at high levels in most immune cells and can affect many aspects of the immune response. Intracellular levels generally respond to variations in plasma ascorbate availability, and a combination of inadequate intake and increased turnover during severe stress can result in low plasma ascorbate status. Intracellular ascorbate supports essential functions and, in particular, acts as an enzyme cofactor for Fe- or Cu-containing oxygenases. Newly discovered enzymes in this family regulate cell metabolism and epigenetics, and dysregulation of their activity can affect cell phenotype, growth and survival pathways, and stem cell phenotype. This brief overview details some of the recent advances in our understanding of how ascorbate availability can affect the hydroxylases controlling the hypoxic response and the DNA and histone demethylases. These processes play important roles in the regulation of the immune system, altering cell survival pathways, metabolism and functions.

Keywords: ascorbate; demethylation; hydroxylases; hypoxia inducible factors; vitamin C.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ascorbic Acid / blood*
  • Ascorbic Acid / physiology*
  • Cell Hypoxia
  • Copper / chemistry
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Histone Demethylases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Immune System
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Iron / chemistry
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Copper
  • Iron
  • Histone Demethylases
  • Ascorbic Acid