Vitamin D Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin D, including details on sources, melanin, benefits, deficiency, supplements, calcium absorption.

1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 modulates the murine antibody response to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide serotype 3 through IL-12.

Jeurissen A, Van Etten E, Overbergh L, Wuyts G, Heremans H, Matthys P, Ceuppens JL, Mathieu C, Bossuyt X

Experimental Laboratory Medicine, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3)] is a steroid hormone that regulates calcium metabolism. Besides, 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3 )also has pronounced immunomodulatory effects: it strongly inhibits dendritic cell (DC) maturation and impairs IL-12 production. We studied the effect of 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3 )on the antibody response to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (caps-PS) serotype 3. 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) inhibited the IgG2a antibody response to caps-PS serotype 3. Besides, 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) also inhibited IL-12 production and maturation of DC. Anti-IL-12 and exogenous IL-12, respectively, inhibited and stimulated the IgG2a antibody response to caps-PS serotype 3. Exogenous IL-12 abrogated the effect of 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) on the IgG2a antibody response to caps-PS serotype 3, indicating that the effect of 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) on the IgG2a antibody response to caps-PS serotype 3 was mediated through IL-12. In conclusion, we demonstrate that 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) has an inhibitory effect on the IgG2a antibody response to caps-PS serotype 3, and that this effect was mediated trough IL-12.

Published 12 July 2005 in Eur J Immunol, 35(6): 1841-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Vitamin D Research Today. All Rights Reserved.