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Al-Jaberi FAH, Crone CG, Lindenstrøm T, Arildsen NS, Lindeløv ES, Aagaard L, Gravesen E, Mortensen R, Andersen AB, Olgaard K, Hjaltelin JX, Brunak S, Bonefeld CM, Kongsbak-Wismann M, Geisler C. Reduced vitamin D-induced cathelicidin production and killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in macrophages from a patient with a non-functional vitamin D receptor: A case report. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1038960. [DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1038960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) presents a serious health problem with approximately a quarter of the world’s population infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) in an asymptomatic latent state of which 5–10% develops active TB at some point in their lives. The antimicrobial protein cathelicidin has broad antimicrobial activity towards viruses and bacteria including M. tuberculosis. Vitamin D increases the expression of cathelicidin in many cell types including macrophages, and it has been suggested that the vitamin D-mediated antimicrobial activity against M. tuberculosis is dependent on the induction of cathelicidin. However, unraveling the immunoregulatory effects of vitamin D in humans is hampered by the lack of suitable experimental models. We have previously described a family in which members suffer from hereditary vitamin D-resistant rickets (HVDRR). The family carry a mutation in the DNA-binding domain of the vitamin D receptor (VDR). This mutation leads to a non-functional VDR, meaning that vitamin D cannot exert its effect in family members homozygous for the mutation. Studies of HVDRR patients open unique possibilities to gain insight in the immunoregulatory roles of vitamin D in humans. Here we describe the impaired ability of macrophages to produce cathelicidin in a HVDRR patient, who in her adolescence suffered from extrapulmonary TB. The present case is a rare experiment of nature, which illustrates the importance of vitamin D in the pathophysiology of combating M. tuberculosis.
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Huțanu A, Georgescu AM, Voidăzan S, Andrejkovits AV, Negrea V, Dobreanu M. Low Serum Vitamin D in COVID-19 Patients Is Not Related to Inflammatory Markers and Patients' Outcomes-A Single-Center Experience and a Brief Review of the Literature. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14101998. [PMID: 35631138 PMCID: PMC9146893 DOI: 10.3390/nu14101998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the vitamin D status in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and the correlation with C reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, fibrinogen, and peripheral blood leukocytes, as well as inflammatory derived indices. A prospective study was performed on 203 COVID-19 hospitalized patients, classified by disease severity. Blood was collected after admission, and inflammatory biomarkers and vitamin D status were assessed using routine laboratory procedures. No significant correlation was found between vitamin D serum levels and disease severity stratified by different age groups. However, the highest vitamin D levels were found in patients with mild disease: median 29.39 (IQR 12.12–44.02) ng/mL, while for moderate and severe forms the serum levels were significantly lower: median 15.10 (IQR 9.56–24.11) ng/mL for moderate, and 18.86 (IQR 12.50–27.88) ng/mL for severe; p = 0.009. Patients with no comorbidities showed a significantly higher level of vitamin D median 24.72 (IQR 16.05–31.52) ng/mL compared to subjects with at least one comorbidity: median 16.02 (IQR 9.81–25.22) ng/mL, p = 0.004. We did not find an association between vitamin D levels and inflammatory biomarkers except for significantly lower vitamin D levels in moderate and severe COVID-19 compared to mild disease forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adina Huțanu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.H.); (M.D.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Emergency Clinical County Hospital Targu Mures, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Anca Meda Georgescu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.V.A.); (V.N.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Septimiu Voidăzan
- Department of Epidemiology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania;
| | - Akos Vince Andrejkovits
- Department of Infectious Diseases, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.V.A.); (V.N.)
| | - Valentina Negrea
- Department of Infectious Diseases, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.V.A.); (V.N.)
| | - Minodora Dobreanu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania; (A.H.); (M.D.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Emergency Clinical County Hospital Targu Mures, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
- Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540136 Targu Mures, Romania
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