title: 1α,25(OH)2 Vitamin D3 Modulates Avian T Lymphocyte Functions without Inducing CTL Unresponsiveness.
abstract: 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (Vitamin D) is a naturally synthesized fat soluble vitamin shown to have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and cancer prevention properties in human and murine models. Here, we studied the effects of Vitamin D on the functional abilities of avian T lymphocytes using chicken Interferon (IFN)-γ ELISPOT assay, BrdU proliferation assay, Annexin V apoptosis assay and PhosFlow for detecting phosphorylated signalling molecules. The results demonstrate that Vitamin D significantly inhibited the abilities of T lymphocytes to produce IFN-γ and proliferate in vitro (P≤0.05), but retained their ability to undergo degranulation, which is a maker for cytotoxicity of these cells. Similarly, Vitamin D did not inhibit Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation, a key mediator in T cell signalling, in the stimulated T lymphocytes population, while reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels in the unstimulated cells. Our data provide evidence that Vitamin D has immuno-modulatory properties on chicken T lymphocytes without inducing unresponsiveness and by limiting immuno-pathology can promote protective immunity against infectious diseases of poultry.
authors.affiliation: The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nitish
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boodhoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Shayan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharif
authors.affiliation: The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shahriar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Behboudi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000276:immunology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D002117:Calcitriol