Autophagy induction by vitamin D inhibits both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
Low vitamin D levels in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV) infected persons are associated with more rapid disease progression and increased risk for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We report that physiological concentrations of 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25D3), the active form of vitamin D, inhibits M. tuberculosis and HIV replication in co-infected macrophages through human cathelicidin microbial peptide-dependent autophagy that requires phagosomal maturation. These findings provide a biological explanation for the importance of vitamin D sufficiency in HIV and M. tuberculosis-infected persons, and provide new insights into novel approaches to prevent and treat HIV infection and related opportunistic infections.
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Grant R
GR
Campbell
Stephen A
SA
Spector
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054804:Cathelicidins
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D014807:Vitamin D; D054804:Cathelicidins