title: Synergetic and antagonistic effects of combined calcitriol and interferon-β treatment on cytokine production by stimulated PBMCs.
abstract: We evaluated the effects of calcitriol and interferon-β on in vitro PBMC cytokine production from a cohort of 22 healthy adults not on medication.
  
  
  
  PBMCs were incubated with calcitriol and/or 100 or 400IU interferon-β or nothing, followed by stimulation with concanavalin A.
  
  
  
  When combined, calcitriol and interferon-β appeared to potentiate the effects of one another on reducing IL-6. Calcitriol significantly reduced the production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-γ, while interferon-β significantly reduced production of IL-6 and TNF-α, and increased IL-10.
  
  
  
  This is the first study to evaluate the effects of combined calcitriol and interferon-β on cytokine production in PBMCs in vitro, demonstrating novel synergetic effects.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Australia. Electronic address: steve.simpson@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Australia; School of Pharmacy, University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Niall
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van der Mei
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blizzard
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Bruce V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D016207:Cytokines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008934:Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A; D014807:Vitamin D; D016899:Interferon-beta; D002117:Calcitriol
keywords: Cytokine; IL-6; Interferon-β; PBMC; Vitamin D