title: Role of vitamin D3 in regulation of T helper cell 17 and regulatory T-cell balance in rats with immunoglobulin a nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dysregulation of CD4+ T cell subsets participates in the pathogenesis of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Vitamin D has immunomodulatory functions. This study aims to investigate the regulatory effect of vitamin D3 on T helper- regulatory T (Th17-Treg) cells balance in rats with IgAN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a normal group (n = 6), an IgAN model group (n = 5), a prednisone treatment IgAN group (n = 6), a 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 IgAN group (n = 6), and prednisone plus 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 treatment group (n = 6). At week 12, the 24-hour urine protein excretion and erythrocyte count and renal pathological changes were determined, and serum interleukin-17 and Treg cell levels were measured in blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The urine protein content and the number of erythrocytes were lower in the vitamin D group than in the model group (P < .01), but higher than in the prednisone groups (P < 0.01). The pathological impairments in the glomerular mesangium, renal tubule, and renal interstitium decreased in response to treatment with prednisone with and without 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Serum interleukin-17 level in the vitamin D and prednisone plus vitamin D groups was lower than in the prednisone group (P < .05). The Treg cells in the vitamin D and prednisone plus vitamin D groups showed higher levels than in the prednisone group (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D3 can regulate the Th17/Treg balance and reduce the level of protein and blood in the urine of rats with IgAN.
authors.forename: Xinging
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Children's Medical Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. xiaochuanwu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Xiaochuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Zhuwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Qingnan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiaojie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Shuanghong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C515934:Il17a protein, rat; D020381:Interleukin-17; D014815:Vitamins; D002762:Cholecalciferol