title: Effect of vitamin D supplementation on cathelicidin, IFN-γ, IL-4 and Th1/Th2 transcription factors in young healthy females.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the effect of cholecalciferol and calcium supplementation on mRNA expression of cathelicidin (LL-37), Th1 and Th2 cytokines and their transcription factors in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in healthy females with vitamin D deficiency (VDD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects included 131 females with biochemical VDD randomized to receive (a) oral cholecalciferol (60,000 IU/week for 8 weeks followed by 60,000 IU/fortnight (b) calcium (elemental calcium 500 mg twice/day) (c), dual supplementation and (d) placebo for 6 months. The mRNA expression of cathelicidin, Th1 (IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4 and its antagonist-IL-4δ2) cytokines and their transcription factors (T-bet, STAT4, GATA-3, STAT6) were measured in the PBMC by real-time PCR before and after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cholecalciferol-supplemented groups showed significant rise of mean serum 25(OH)D (30.6 ± 7.51 and 28.6 ± 8.41 ng/ml). The expression of LL-37, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-4δ2 and transcription factors were comparable in the four groups at baseline. Despite significant increase in mean serum 25(OH)D in the cholecalciferol-supplemented groups, their mean mRNA transcripts of LL-37, IFN-γ, IL-4, transcription factors and their IFN-γ/IL-4 and T-bet/GATA-3 ratios were similar to that of calcium and placebo groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Six months of cholecalciferol/calcium supplementation in young females with VDD do not lead to significant alteration in mRNA expression of LL-37, Th1/Th2 cytokines and their transcription factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tomar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sreenivas
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goswami
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014807:Vitamin D; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D054804:Cathelicidins