RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effect of vitamin D treatment on antimicrobial peptides in asthma patients and healthy controls
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 4888
VO 38
IS Suppl 55
A1 W. Thijs
A1 K. Janssen
A1 R.M. Verhoosel
A1 S.E. Papapoulos
A1 S. Le Cessie
A1 S. Middeldorp
A1 C.F. Melissant
A1 K.F. Rabe
A1 P.S. Hiemstra
YR 2011
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/4888.abstract
AB Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to asthma because of the proposed role of vitamin D in inflammation control and host defense against infection. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are effector molecules of the innate immune system, and their expression may be decreased by allergic inflammation. Vitamin D increases expression of AMP in vitro, but its effects on AMPs levels in asthma patients are unknown.Hypothesis: AMP levels in nasal secretions of patients with allergic asthma are lower than those in controls and can be restored by vitamin D substitution.Methods and results: 20 allergic asthma patients and 20 controls (18-45 yrs) were included. The influence of allergic asthma on AMPs was assessed in a case control design, and the effect of 7 days daily oral treatment with 2 mcg 1,25(OH)2D3 active vitamin D (calcitriol) on AMPs was assessed in a placebo-controlled cross-over study.The levels of the AMPs HNP1-3 and NGAL were significantly lower in asthmatics, whereas there was a trend for LL-37 (table 1).View this table:Table 1. Mean AMP in asthma patients and healthy controlsTreatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 significantly increased HNP1-3 and there was a trend for an increase in LL-37 and NGAL.Conclusion: Levels of AMPs are lower in nasal secretions in asthmatics, and treatment with active vitamin D increases these levels.