# Unveiling Cell‐Type‐Specific Immune Reactions in Human Blood Following Varied Fruit and Vegetable Blends Interventions

## TL;DR

This study explores how different fruit and vegetable blends affect immune cell activity in blood, revealing specific immune responses linked to dietary intake.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel approach using CIBERSORTx to analyze cell-type-specific immune responses to varied fruit and vegetable blends.

## Key findings

- Blends high in carotenoids or anthocyanins altered CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratios.
- Memory B cells correlated with beta-carotene levels after consuming a specific blend.
- Certain blends affected DNA repair in B cells and NF-kappa B signaling in plasma cells.

## Abstract

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) reduces chronic disease risk by modulating oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, and immune cell activity in the blood. Given the complexity of peripheral blood and its cellular components, understanding cell‐type‐specific responses to F&V interventions remains essential and challenging. We used CIBERSORTx to analyze immune cell fractions and gene expression profiles from RNA sequencing data of the MiBLEND study, which assessed the impact of seven F&V blends on chronic disease markers, phytochemical absorption, and gene expression changes in blood. Analysis of white blood cells (WBCs) showed no significant changes in proportions of major leukocyte types. CIBERSORTx determined proportions of 22 leukocyte subtypes, correlating with traditional WBC composition. Paired t tests revealed that blends higher in carotenoids, anthocyanins, or complex phytochemicals altered CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratios. A strong positive association was observed between the proportion of memory B cells and beta‐carotene levels in peripheral blood following the consumption of Blend 1. Finally, DEGs and pathway analyses showed that some blends affected DNA repair in B cells, NF‐kappa B signaling in plasma cells, and endocytosis in dendritic cells (DCs) and natural killer (NK) cells. These findings offer clearer insight into immune cell dynamics in blood following F&V interventions, clarifying immune mechanisms involved in their preventive effects.

Paired peripheral‐blood RNA‐seq from MiBLEND was deconvolved with CIBERSORTx to profile leukocyte composition and cell‐type‐specific transcriptomic responses to seven fruit‐and‐vegetable blends. Deconvolution yielded 22 leukocyte subtypes that correlated with laboratory WBC reports (R = 0.886, p ≤ 0.01). Blends 2, 3, and 7 shifted T‐cell composition, notably CD8 T cells and resting memory CD4 T cells. Group‐mode profiles enabled differential‐expression and KEGG analyses that identified cell‐type‐specific pathways: DNA repair in B cells, NF‐κB signaling in plasma cells, and endocytosis in mast cells, dendritic cells, and NK cells, including N‐glycan biosynthesis. This approach provides mechanistic insight into cell‐type‐specific immune responses associated with fruit‐and‐vegetable intake.