Vitamin D status and its modulatory effect on interferon gamma and interleukin-10 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in culture.
We aimed to investigate the influence of vitamin D on the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10), in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures.



Thirty healthy subjects were investigated. Serum levels of calcium, 25(OH) D, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were assessed. PBMCs were activated in-vitro by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in the presence and absence of vitamin D3 and then levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 were determined in culture supernatant using enzyme immunoassay.



Serum calcium levels were significantly lower in the vitamin D deficient group while serum PTH levels were significantly higher in the vitamin D deficient group. PTH levels were inversely correlated to both calcium and 25(OH) D levels. In culture, vitamin D inhibited IFN-γ production and increased IL-10 production by PBMCs. Serum vitamin D status had no influence on the amount of cytokine produced in culture.



This study demonstrates that vitamin D modulates IFN-γ and IL-10 production and provides a rationale for evaluating vitamin D as an immunomodulatory agent.
Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt. Electronic address: dinaragab@med.asu.edu.eg.
Dina
D
Ragab
Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt. Electronic address: dinasoliman75@yahoo.com.
Dina
D
Soliman
Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt. Electronic address: daliasamaha@hotmail.com.
Dalia
D
Samaha
Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt. Electronic address: shooshoo42@hotmail.com.
Aisha
A
Yassin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
C508609:IL10 protein, human; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D016753:Interleukin-10; D014807:Vitamin D; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002118:Calcium
IFN-γ; IL-10; Vitamin D