Assessment of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 effects on Treg cells in a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lavi Arab, Fahimeh; Rastin, Maryam; Faraji, Fatemeh; Zamani Taghizadeh Rabe, Shahrzad; Tabasi, Nafise; Khazaee, Mahdieh; Haghmorad, Dariush; Mahmoudi, Mahmoud
• Is Part Of: Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology. Volume 37:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Immunopharmacology -- Periodicals; Immunotoxicology -- Periodicals; Antibody-toxin conjugates -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 615.37
• DOI: 10.3109/08923973.2014.968255
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0892-3973

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Context</italic>: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease which is characterized by the presence of auto-reactive T cell and anti-ds DNA antibodies. Treg cells are crucial for maintaining immunologic self-tolerance and are shown to be reduced in SLE patients. 1, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 has immunomedulatory effects on the immune system and has recently received substantial attention.</p> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: In this study we evaluated the effects of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on Treg cells and related cytokines in lupus-like induced mice model.</p> <p> <italic>Materials and methods</italic>: Female Balb/c mice were divided into four groups: Group one: injected with PBS and Freund's adjuvant; Group two: injected with non-activated chromatin; Group three: Lupus-like disease was induced with activated chromatin; Group four: Mice were initially treated for two weeks with 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and then lupus-like disease was induced. Group five: Four mice from group one were treated with 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 for two weeks after disease establishment. Ten weeks after the last injection the mice were killed and spleens were studied for Treg percentages and expression of cytokine genes.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: We found that treatment with 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 reduces IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA expression and increases TGF-β and Foxp3 mRNA expression levels, and also enhances spleen Treg percentage.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: The remarkable reduction of IL-6 and IL-10 gene expressions, significant enhancement of TGF-β and Foxp3 gene expressions, along with an increase in Treg cell population after oral 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 administration suggest a possible role for this vitamin as a prophylactic supplement in SLE.</p> </abstract>