House dust mite induced lung inflammation does not alter circulating vitamin D levels

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 12;9(11):e112589. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112589. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Low circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] are associated with chronic lung diseases such as asthma. However, it is unclear whether vitamin D is involved in disease pathogenesis or is modified by the inflammation associated with the disease process. We hypothesized that allergic inflammation decreases the level of circulating 25(OH)D and tested this using a mice model of house dust mite (HDM) induced allergic airway inflammation. Cellular influx was measured in bronchoalvelar lavage (BAL) fluid, and allergic sensitization and 25(OH)D levels were measured in serum. Exposure to HDM caused a robust inflammatory response in the lung that was enhanced by prior influenza infection. These responses were not associated with any change in circulating levels of 25(OH)D. These data suggest that alterations in circulating 25(OH)D levels induced by Th-2 driven inflammation are unlikely to explain the cross-sectional epidemiological association between vitamin D deficiency and asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Eosinophils / immunology
  • Eosinophils / pathology
  • Eosinophils / virology
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Inflammation / blood*
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / virology
  • Influenza A virus / immunology
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung / virology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Macrophages / virology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Neutrophils / pathology
  • Neutrophils / virology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / blood*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / pathology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology
  • Pyroglyphidae / immunology*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / blood*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / etiology
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / virology
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Th2 Cells / pathology
  • Th2 Cells / virology
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Grants and funding

This work was supported by NHMRC project grants (1042235 and 1026494), Australia (http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.