title: Effect of vitamin D(3) supplementation on peripheral B cell differentiation and isotype switching in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D has been proposed as a promoter of immune homeostasis in multiple sclerosis (MS). During the past decade, the focus of the effects of vitamin D has been on dendritic cells and on T cells. Since there is an increasing interest in the role of B cells in the pathophysiology of MS, we studied the role of vitamin D on B cells in vivo in patients with MS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We explored the effects of 12 weeks high-dose vitamin D(3) supplementation on peripheral B cell differentiation, immunoglobulin production and levels of B cell activating factor (BAFF) in 15 patients with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Circulating B cell subsets were characterized by flow cytometry. Plasma immunoglobulin levels were assessed by nephelometry. Plasma BAFF levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although a significant increase serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was induced, we found no significant shift in B cell differentiation, isotype switching, or plasma BAFF levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with MS, supplementation of high doses vitamin D(3) does not have substantial effects on phenotypic markers of B cell differentiation in circulating B cells. Future studies may unravel more subtle changes in the B cell compartment, either in the circulation or in the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. S.Knippenberg@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knippenberg
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smolders
authors.forename: Mariëlle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thewissen
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peelen
authors.forename: Jan Willem Cohen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tervaert
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hupperts
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damoiseaux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching / Q000187:drug effects*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D002762:Cholecalciferol