1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 inhibits not only Th1 but also Th2 differentiation in human cord blood T cells.
Human naive CD4+ T helper (Th) and CD8+ cytotoxic (Tc) T cells, which only produce IL-2, may differentiate into Th1/Tc1- or Th2/Tc2-like lymphocytes, characterized by their cytokine production profile. 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3) has been reported to inhibit Th1/Tc1-related, but increase Th2/Tc2-associated cytokines in T cells from adults. In industrialized countries, vitamin D supplementation for prevention of rickets is initiated within the first days of life and continued throughout the entire first year. Epidemiologic studies suggest an association of vitamin D exposure in newborns with the incidence of allergic diseases in later life. This study addresses the effects of 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 on Th1/Tc1 versus Th2/Tc2 differentiation in long term cell cultures of (naive) cord blood T lymphocytes. Our results show that in CD4+ as well as CD8+ cord blood cells, 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 inhibits not only IL-12-generated IFN-gamma production, but also suppresses IL-4 and IL-13 expression induced by IL-4. Thus, in cord blood 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 induces a T cell population without predominance of Th2 related cytokines.
Pichler
Josefa
J
Department of Pediatrics, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Gerstmayr
Marianne
M
Szépfalusi
Zsolt
Z
Urbanek
Radvan
R
Peterlik
Meinrad
M
Willheim
Martin
M
D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D018793:Interleukin-13; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002117:Calcitriol