ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors focus on the interference of antioxidants with immune response and discuss possible consequences of unconsidered high-dose antioxidant supplementation. The Th1-type immune response is involved in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory disorders like autoimmune syndromes, cardiovascular diseases, malignant tumor diseases, or neurodegenerative disorders. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated via density centrifugation from blood of healthy donors can be used as in vitro model to measure the immunomodulatory influences of various substances on Th1-type immune response. Several drugs that are known to possess antioxidant activities, like aspirin, salicylic acid, atorvastatin, or vitamin A or C but also phytocompounds and botanical extracts, were shown to suppress tryptophan breakdown and neopterin production in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated PBMCs in a dose-dependent manner. Antioxidants may have a beneficial influence on human health when administered as an anti-inflammatory agent under certain conditions characterized by high levels of oxidative stress.
