title: The effect of calcitriol on natural killer cell activity in hemodialyzed patients.
abstract: We report the effect of calcitriol on natural killer (NK) cell activity in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing long-term hemodialysis. Natural killer cytotoxicity was significantly decreased in these patients when compared to healthy control subjects (13.1 +/- 1.3 vs 38.8 +/- 2.4%, P less than 0.001). These patients also have decreased levels of calcitriol (17 +/- 3 vs 36 +/- 3 pg/ml, P less than 0.001). After 14 days of oral treatment with calcitriol at a dose of 0.5 micrograms per day, a significant increase in NK activity was observed (20.2 +/- 1.6%, P less than 0.001). This increase was maintained after 28 days of treatment (21.1 +/- 2%, P less than 0.001). These results suggest that the decreased serum calcitriol might contribute to the diminished NK activity found in hemodialyzed patients, and suggests a new potential therapeutical utility of calcitriol as modulator of the immune function in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Regional Universitario Reina Sofia, Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Quesada
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solana
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santamaria
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aljama
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peña
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium