title: Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA Increases Vitamin D Receptor mRNA Expression and the Production of Nitric Oxide and Cathelicidin in Human Monocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The innate immune response to tuberculosis infection may involve the increased production of nitric oxide and cathelicidin due to the up-regulated expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), though this proposed mechanism remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine how the exposure of human monocytes to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) DNA affects the production of nitric oxide and cathelicidin, as well as the expression of VDR.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed using monocytes obtained from healthy donors. After 24 h incubation, monocytes were stimulated with M. tuberculosis DNA for 18 h to determine the expression of VDR mRNA and the production of nitric oxide and cathelicidin versus non-stimulated cells (the control group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of VDR mRNA was higher in the monocytes exposed to M. tuberculosis DNA compared to the control group (P = 0.020). Monocytes exposed to M. tuberculosis DNA also showed significantly increased production of nitric oxide and cathelicidin compared to the control group (P = 0.0001; P = 0.028).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The stimulation of human monocytes with M. tuberculosis DNA increases the expression of the VDR mRNA and the production of nitric oxide and cathelicidin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran, Malang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Siswanto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siswanto
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran, Malang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Lilik
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zuhriyah
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran Malang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Kusworini
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Handono
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran Malang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Loeki Enggar
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Fitri
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran Malang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Sumarno Reto
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Prawiro
keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA; cathelicidin; monocytes; nitric oxide; tuberculosis