LL-37 concentrations and the relationship to vitamin D, immune status, and inflammation in HIV-infected children and young adults

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2014 Jul;30(7):670-6. doi: 10.1089/AID.2013.0279. Epub 2014 May 28.

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptide LL-37 is produced in response to active vitamin D to exert immunomodulatory effects and inhibits HIV replication in vitro. To date, no studies have investigated LL-37 in HIV-infected patients. This study sought to investigate LL-37 and the relationship to 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and HIV-related variables in this population. HIV-infected subjects and healthy controls ages 1-25 years old were prospectively enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Fasting plasma LL-37 and 25(OH)D concentrations were measured in duplicate with ELISA. HIV(+) subjects (36 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-experienced subjects; 27 ART-naïve subjects) and 31 healthy controls were enrolled. Overall, 93% were black and the median age was 20 years. There was no difference in median (interquartile range) LL-37 between the HIV-infected group and controls [58.3 (46.4,69.5) vs. 51.3 (40.8,98.2) ng/ml, respectively; p=0.57]; however, the ART-experienced group had higher concentrations than the ART-naive group [66.2 (55.4,77.0) vs. 48.9 (38.9,57.9) ng/ml, respectively; p<0.001]. LL-37 was positively correlated with 25(OH)D in controls, but not in HIV-infected groups, and was positively correlated with current CD4 and ΔCD4 (current-nadir) in the ART-experienced group. After adjustment for age, race, sex, and HIV duration, the association between LL-37 and CD4 remained significant. These findings suggest that HIV and/or HIV-related variables may alter the expected positive relationship between vitamin D and LL-37 and should be further investigated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / blood*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • Black People
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cathelicidins
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / growth & development
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D / metabolism
  • White People
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • Cathelicidins