Alpha-tocopherol and allergic airway inflammation in mice
What it found
In mice, alpha-tocopherol reduced allergic airway inflammation by acting on a pathway that controls ferroptosis in group 2 innate lymphoid cells.
In lab tests on human blood cells, it also reduced the activation of these cells.
What they found
Studies in people
Human asthma samples
ILC2 activation and LKB1-related ferroptosis were seen in people with asthma.
Animal and lab studies
Lung cell changes in mice
In mice given alpha-tocopherol, lung ILC2s had lower levels of SCARB1 and reduced activity of the LKB1-AMPK/mTOR pathway.
LKB1 loss in mice
Mice without LKB1 or given a SCARB1 blocker had fewer ILC2s, poorer ILC2 function, and less lung inflammation.
Alpha-tocopherol needs LKB1
In mice lacking LKB1, alpha-tocopherol did not reduce allergic airway inflammation.
Ferroptosis in ILC2s
LKB1 controls a protein complex (KLF4-GPX4) that affects ferroptosis in ILC2s, and loss of LKB1 reduces lung inflammation by promoting this cell death.
Human blood ILC2s in lab
In lab cultures of human blood ILC2s, alpha-tocopherol significantly reduced ILC2 activation and LKB1-mediated ferroptosis.
What the authors conclude
“These findings enhance our understanding of dietary immunization and suggest potential therapeutic applications for α-Toc in asthma management.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say these findings improve understanding of dietary immunization.
- They suggest potential therapeutic uses for alpha-tocopherol in asthma management.
How it was done
Dietary factors can affect allergic airway inflammation driven by group 2 innate lymphoid cells, and the authors wanted to see whether alpha-tocopherol, a part of vitamin E, plays a role.
They studied mice treated with alpha-tocopherol, mice lacking LKB1, and mice given a SCARB1 blocker. They also looked at lung cells from people with asthma and tested alpha-tocopherol on human blood ILC2s grown in the lab.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- Most of the experiments were in mice, so the results may not be the same in people.
- The human cell work was done in lab dishes, not in the body, so it cannot show what happens in a person.
- The study cannot show whether taking alpha-tocopherol would help people with asthma.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests.
- Authors work at
- the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, China; Southern Medical University, China; Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, China
The paper
- Title
- α-Tocopherol ameliorates allergic airway inflammation by regulating ILC2 ferroptosis in an LKB1-dependent manner
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Zhang X, Liu J, Chen Z, et al (2025). α-Tocopherol ameliorates allergic airway inflammation by regulating ILC2 ferroptosis in an LKB1-dependent manner. Molecular therapy. doi:10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.08.053Free full textPubMed 40898617DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error