Evaluation of the effects of 1,25VitD3 on Th17 cells and Tregs in HTLV-1 infected cell lines

Abstract

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) causes chronic infections of human T lymphocytes. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of 1,25VitD3 on the proportion of Tregs and Th17 cells, the expression of related transcription factors (ROR-γt and FOXP3) and cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β, IL-6, and IL-17 A) in the HTLV-1infected cell lines MT-2 and MT-4. MT-2 and MT-4 cells and control PBMCs were treated with 1,25VitD3 and percentages of Tregs and Th17 cells was determined by flow cytometry. Gene expression and cytokine levels were analyzed by real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. Treatment with-1,25VitD3 increased the percentage of Tregs in MT-2 and MT-4 cells, while it decreased the percentage of Th17 cells among MT-2 cells. 1,25VitD3 treatment also significantly improved FOXP3 gene expression in MT-2 cells, while reducing ROR-γt-gene expression in MT-2 and MT-4 cells comparing to untreated cells. Treatment with 1,25VitD3 significantly improved IL-10 levels in MT-2 cells, as well as TGF-β levels in both cell lines culture supernatants. 1,25VitD3 treatment diminished IL-6 levels in cell culture supernatants of MT-2 and MT-4 as well as IL-17 A levels in MT-2. Here we showed, that 1,25VitD3 modulated immune responses by enhancing Tregs differentiation and functions as well as inhibiting Th17 differentiation and actions in HTLV-1 infected cell lines. This suggests that VitD3 may have therapeutic effects in HTLV-1-related diseases by suppressing adverse inflammatory responses. Keywords: Tregs; Th17 cells; HTLV-1; 1, 25VitD3.