title: Correlation between the cord vitamin D levels and regulatory T cells in newborn infants.
abstract: Vitamin D is important for calcium homeostasis, muscle, and bone health. It has also immunomodulatory capacities in vivo and in vitro. Regulatory T cells (Treg) have been found to suppress a number of T cell-mediated immune disorders, including allergic responses and autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and the regulatory T cells in cord blood. The study group is comprised of 101 full-term newborn infants. Umbilical cord 25(OH)D levels and number and percentage of T lymphocyte, T helper, and Treg cells were measured. Infants were grouped according to 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (25(OH)D <12 ng/ml and 25(OH)D >12 ng/ml) (converting factor of 25OHD level into SI unit, 2.6). Severe vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D <12 ng/ml) was observed in 32% of the infants. There was no significant correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and T cell number and percentages. There were also no significant differences in white blood cell, total lymphocyte count, T helper, and Treg cell percentage and number between groups. These results suggest that the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is not crucially involved in the correlation between vitamin D status and T cell regulation in cord blood.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayşegül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Güven
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ecevit
authors.forename: Oktay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sözer
authors.forename: Aytül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarcan
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarcan
authors.forename: Namık
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozbek
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D