Vitamin C decreases intracellular calcium level in human lymphoid cells

Ozturk G., MULHOLLAND C., HANNIGAN B.

JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY, vol.52, no.2, pp.285-292, 2001 (Peer-Reviewed Journal) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 52 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2001
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.285-292

Abstract

Human lymphocytes have low levels of many antioxidant enzymes however they are know to concentrate vitamin C. Cell injury, including oxidative stress effects, is associated with calcium influx so the influence of vitamin C on the maintenance of calcium levels in leukocytes was studied. Incubation of Molt-3 human lymphoblastoid cells with physiologically relevant concentrations of vitamin C and the calcium ionophore A23187 reversed the calcium influx and increased nuclear protein level associated with the ionophore alone. It is concluded that intracellular vitamin C can inhibit calcium influx into leukocytes so helping to minimise cell damage.