Abstract
Vitamin D has a range of non-skeletal health effects and has been implicated in the response to respiratory infections. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of vitamin D on the response of epithelial cells, neutrophils and macrophages to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. BEAS-2B cells (airway epithelial cell line) and primary neutrophils and macrophages isolated from blood samples were cultured and exposed to LPS with and without vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D). The production of IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α of all cells and the phagocytic capacity of neutrophils and macrophages to E. coli were assessed. Vitamin D had no effect on BEAS-2B cells but enhanced the production of IL-8 in neutrophils (p = 0.007) and IL-1β in macrophages (p = 0.007) in response to LPS. Both vitamin D (p = 0.019) and LPS (p < 0.001) reduced the phagocytic capacity of macrophages. These data suggest that the impact of vitamin D on responses to infection are complex and that the net effect will depend on the cells that respond, the key response that is necessary for resolution of infection (cytokine production or phagocytosis) and whether there is pre-existing inflammation.
Highlights
Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone which is well-known of its role in mineral and skeletal homeostasis[1]
Cytokine production by BEAS-2B cells. 24 hours after exposure to LPS, the production of IL-6 (Fig. 1a, p < 0.001) and IL-8 (Fig. 1b, p < 0.001) was increased in BEAS-2B cells compared to controls
While 1,25(OH)2D3 had no effect on the production of IL-6 (p = 0.297) or TNF- α(p = 0.728) by the neutrophils, it increased the IL-8 response (p = 0.007) in both the LPS treated and untreated neutrophils
Summary
Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone which is well-known of its role in mineral and skeletal homeostasis[1]. A plethora of studies have suggested that vitamin D has a range of roles beyond the regulation of bone metabolism and that it plays a critical role in modulating the immune response; including the response to respiratory infections[2]. As the first defensive barrier in the airway tract, play an important role in orchestrating neutrophil and macrophage recruitment to clear invading pathogens[10]. Neutrophils and macrophages play an important role in clearing pathogens through their phagocytic capacity by producing oxidants to kill engulfed microorganisms[11]. Given the inconsistencies in the in vitro and clinical trial data, we aimed to determine the effect of exogenous vitamin D on the inflammatory response in key cells involved in the response to RTIs including epithelial cells, www.nature.com/scientificreports/
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