Vitamin D-binding protein controls T cell responses to vitamin D
BMC Immunology 2014, 15:35 doi:10.1186/s12865-014-0035-2
Martin Kongsbak1, Marina Rode von Essen1, Trine Bøegh Levring1, Peter Schjerling23, Anders Woetmann1, Niels Ødum1, Charlotte Menné Bonefeld1 and Carsten Geisler1 cg at sund.ku.dk
1 Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, U. of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery M, Institute of Sports Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
3 Center for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Background In vitro studies have shown that the active form of vitamin D3, 1?,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), can regulate differentiation of CD4+ T cells by inhibiting Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation and promoting Th2 and Treg cell differentiation. However, the serum concentration of 1,25(OH)2D3 is far below the effective concentration of 1,25(OH)2D3 found in in vitro studies, and it has been suggested that 1,25(OH)2D3 must be produced locally from the inactive precursor 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) to affect ongoing immune responses in vivo. Although it has been reported that activated T cells express the 25(OH)D-1?-hydroxylase CYP27B1 that converts 25(OH)D3 to 1,25(OH)2D3, it is still controversial whether activated T cells have the capacity to produce sufficient amounts of 1,25(OH)2D3 to affect vitamin D-responsive genes. Furthermore, it is not known how the vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) found in high concentrations in serum affects T cell responses to 25(OH)D3.
Results We found that activated T cells express CYP27B1 and have the capacity to produce sufficient 1,25(OH)2D3 to affect vitamin D-responsive genes when cultured with physiological concentrations of 25(OH)D3 in serum-free medium. However, if the medium was supplemented with serum or purified DBP, DBP strictly inhibited the production of 1,25(OH)2D3 and 25(OH)D3-induced T cell responses. In contrast, DBP did not inhibit the effect of exogenous 1,25(OH)2D3. Actin, arachidonic acid and albumin did not affect the sequestration of 25(OH)D3 by DBP, whereas carbonylation of DBP did.
Conclusions Activated T cells express CYP27B1 and can convert 25(OH)D3 to 1,25(OH)2D3 in sufficiently high concentrations to affect vitamin D-responsive genes when cultured in serum-free medium. However, DBP sequesters 25(OH)D3 and inhibits the production of 1,25(OH)2D3 in T cells. To fully exploit the immune-regulatory potential of vitamin D, future studies of the mechanisms that enable the immune system to exploit 25(OH)D3 and convert it to 1,25(OH)2D3 in vivo are required.
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See also Vitamin D Life
- Vitamin D Binding Protein special Issue – June 2014
- Role of Vitamin D in human Diseases and Disorders – An Overview – DBP, VDR June 2014
- Vitamin D can be somewhat blocked by Vitamin D Binding Protein – May 2014
- The vitamin D receptor and T cell function – June 2013
- Fight Cancer with more than cut, burn, and poison – Nobel prize for T-Cell – Oct 2018
- T-cells increased with monthly doses of 140,000 IU vitamin D – April 2014
- Vitamin D helps T-cell and immune system – overview Aug 2011
- Progesterone activates vitamin D receptor - many studies