1α,25(OH)2 Vitamin D3 Modulates Avian T Lymphocyte Functions without Inducing CTL Unresponsiveness

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 24;11(2):e0150134. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150134. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (Vitamin D) is a naturally synthesized fat soluble vitamin shown to have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and cancer prevention properties in human and murine models. Here, we studied the effects of Vitamin D on the functional abilities of avian T lymphocytes using chicken Interferon (IFN)-γ ELISPOT assay, BrdU proliferation assay, Annexin V apoptosis assay and PhosFlow for detecting phosphorylated signalling molecules. The results demonstrate that Vitamin D significantly inhibited the abilities of T lymphocytes to produce IFN-γ and proliferate in vitro (P≤0.05), but retained their ability to undergo degranulation, which is a maker for cytotoxicity of these cells. Similarly, Vitamin D did not inhibit Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation, a key mediator in T cell signalling, in the stimulated T lymphocytes population, while reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation levels in the unstimulated cells. Our data provide evidence that Vitamin D has immuno-modulatory properties on chicken T lymphocytes without inducing unresponsiveness and by limiting immuno-pathology can promote protective immunity against infectious diseases of poultry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcitriol / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Chickens / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / immunology
  • Male
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / immunology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*

Substances

  • Interferon-gamma
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • Calcitriol