Vitamin D3 supplementation and the IL-2/IL-2R pathway in multiple sclerosis: Attenuation of progressive disturbances?

Linda Rolf; Anne-Hilde Muris; Ruud Theunissen; Raymond Hupperts; Jan Damoiseaux; Joost Smolders

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2017.11.007

Vitamin D₃ supplementation and the IL-2/IL-2R pathway in multiple sclerosis: Attenuation of progressive disturbances?

J Neuroimmunol. 2018 Jan 15:314:50-57. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2017.11.007. Epub 2017 Nov 10.

Authors

Linda Rolf¹, Anne-Hilde Muris², Ruud Theunissen³, Raymond Hupperts⁴, Jan Damoiseaux⁵, Joost Smolders⁶

Affiliations

¹ Maastricht University, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Zuyderland Medical Center, Academic MS Center Limburg, PO Box 5500, 6130 MB, Sittard, The Netherlands. Electronic address: linda.rolf@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
² Maastricht University, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Zuyderland Medical Center, Academic MS Center Limburg, PO Box 5500, 6130 MB, Sittard, The Netherlands.
³ Maastricht University, Department of Internal Medicine/Physiology, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.theunissen@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
⁴ Maastricht University, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Zuyderland Medical Center, Academic MS Center Limburg, PO Box 5500, 6130 MB, Sittard, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.hupperts@zuyderland.nl.
⁵ Maastricht University Medical Center, Central Diagnostic Laboratory, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: jan.damoiseaux@mumc.nl.
⁶ Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Department of Neurology, Weg door Jonkerbos 100, 6532 SZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.smolders@cwz.nl.

PMID: 29153546
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2017.11.007

Abstract

Vitamin D₃ upregulates IL-2 receptor alpha (IL2RA, CD25)-expression on CD4⁺ T cells in vitro. We investigated effects of 48-weeks vitamin D₃ supplements on CD25-expression by CD4⁺ T cells of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). There was no significant difference between the vitamin D₃ (n=30) and placebo group (n=23) in IL2RA mRNA-expression by PBMC. Likewise, CD25 cell surface-expression by conventional or regulatory T cells (Treg) did not differ between groups, although Treg CD25-expression and circulating soluble-CD25 levels decreased significantly in the placebo but not vitamin D₃-group. We speculate that vitamin D₃ may promote the maintenance of CD25-related immune homeostasis in MS.

Keywords: CD25; IL-2 receptor; Multiple sclerosis; Regulatory T cell; T cell; Vitamin D.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
Cholecalciferol / therapeutic use*
Dietary Supplements*
Female
Humans
Interleukin-2 / immunology
Interleukin-2 / metabolism
Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / immunology*
Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
Male
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / immunology*
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / metabolism

Substances

IL2RA protein, human
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
Cholecalciferol