The impact of vitamin D on innate immune responsiveness to pattern recognition receptor stimulation in humans

• Main Author: Fitch, Natascha
• Other Authors: HayGlass, Kent (Immunology)
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Vitamin D; Immunology; Cytokines; Inflammation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/22036

Objective: Study the effects of vitamin D on viral driven innate immune responses, by looking at differences in cytokine production, receptor expression, and endogenous vitamin D levels. Methods: Primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and epithelial cells (EC) were cultured in the presence of viral ligands and vitamin D. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to determine cytokine production and mRNA expression. Results: PBMC stimulated with toll-like receptor 4 ligand (TLR4L), but not viral TLR8L, led to decreased pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3. RIG-like receptor (RLR) activation, on the other hand, in primary EC exhibited decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the presence of vitamin D. Conclusions: Our findings are among the first to show differences between bacterial and viral driven innate immune responses in the presence of vitamin D. As responsiveness in RLR activated primary EC was altered in the presence of vitamin D, our data reveal the importance of studying the immune system as a whole.