1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 induces normal mononuclear blood cells to differentiate in the direction of monocyte-macrophages.
Normal blood mononuclear cells incubated in the presence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] in suspension culture showed increased differentiation to adherent macrophages. The effect was specific to 1,25-(OH)2D3 as the closely related metabolite 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 did not increase macrophage numbers. Giant multinuclear cells were observed in increased numbers in 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated cultures. However this effect was not specific to 1,25-(OH)2D3 but due to cell crowding as these cells were also plentiful when cultures without 1,25-(OH)2D3 were incubated at high cell densities. Increased numbers of macrophages were seen after six days of incubation; this effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 occurred also if the mononuclear cells were depleted of T-cells or exposed to X-irradiation at doses up to 25Gy. Addition of 1,25-(OH)2D3 to cultures in semi-solid media did not, however, increase the numbers of monocyte-macrophage colonies. These results suggest that the target cell for 1,25-(OH)2D3 is of the monocyte-macrophage lineage and is at a relatively late stage of maturation.
Choudhuri
U
U
Department of Haematology, Westminster Hospital, London, England.
Adams
J A
JA
Byrom
N
N
McCarthy
D M
DM
Barrett
J
J
D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
D002117:Calcitriol