Abstract
Hypovitaminosis D is associated with age-related illnesses, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CRVD), cerebrovascular disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In our retrospective observational study, blood samples of elderly healthy controls (n = 461) and patients with age-related diseases (n = 8,621) were subjected to flow-cytometry in order to determine correlations between age-related diseases and cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), CD8, CD3, and CD19 lymphocyte markers, as well as serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 (25(OH)D2) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3). More than 70% of the patients in each disease group had total vitamin D < 20 ng/mL (P < 0.001). In CRVD patients, CD3 and CD19 correlated (P < 0.05) with 25(OH)D3. In CAD patients, CD8, CD4, CD19 and CD4/CD8 correlated (P < 0.05) with 25(OH)D2, and CD8 correlated (P < 0.05) with 25(OH)D3. In T2DM and hypertension patients, CD8, CD3, CD19 and CD4/CD8 correlated with 25(OH)D3. Progressive trends (P < 0.05) towards increased CD8 and CD4/CD8 were observed in vitamin-D-deficient T2DM and hypertension patients. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in CD8 were observed in vitamin-D-deficient CAD patients, whereas significant differences (P < 0.05) in CD8 and CD19 were observed in CRVD patients. Higher CD8 and CD4/CD8 in 25(OH)D-deficient T2DM and hypertension patients suggested a Th1 lymphocyte profile induction. Increases in CD8-positive lymphocytes suggested a similar, less pronounced effect in vitamin-D-deficient CRVD and CAD patients.
Highlights
Vitamin D refers to a group of lipid-soluble compounds that act as precursors for the production of the biologically active secosteroid, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, which is primarily produced in the kidney[1]
Vitamin D deficient elderly persons frequently exhibit a progressive increase in serum levels of acute-phase reaction proteins and proinflammatory cytokines[36,37,38,39], a set of conditions associated with chronic diseases that are highly prevalent in the elderly, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), neurodegenerative diseases and glucose metabolism disorders[40,41]
Given the high prevalence of elevated serum IL-6 in vitamin D deficient elderly persons, we retrospectively analyzed the records of a large population of elderly Chinese people to investigate whether the immune marker profiles of lymphocyte subsets correlated with vitamin D levels in patients with illnesses more common diagnosed in the elderly such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cerebrovascular disease (CRVD), coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension and cancer[46]
Summary
Vitamin D refers to a group of lipid-soluble compounds that act as precursors for the production of the biologically active secosteroid, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, which is primarily produced in the kidney[1]. Investigations worldwide have shown that vitamin D levels wane in the elderly[23,24], with women often exhibiting vitamin D deficiency at younger ages than men[25]. Serum markers of both innate and adaptive immunity are www.nature.com/scientificreports/. Given the high prevalence of elevated serum IL-6 in vitamin D deficient elderly persons, we retrospectively analyzed the records of a large population of elderly Chinese people to investigate whether the immune marker profiles of lymphocyte subsets correlated with vitamin D levels in patients with illnesses more common diagnosed in the elderly such as T2DM, cerebrovascular disease (CRVD), coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension and cancer[46]
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