Vitamin D and pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ and the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 in peritoneal dialysis patients

Several clinical trials in patients with chronic disease have found that active vitamin D usage lowers pro-inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was evaluate whether supplementation of cholecalciferol in peritoneal dialysis patients with vitamin D deficiency would lead any chance in the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ and the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, and pentraxin 3 and peripheral blood mononuclear cell subpopulations (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45)and CD4/CD8 ratio. We analyzed fasting blood samples from 31 continuous peritoneal dialysis patients (15 males, 16 females, mean age 48,6±14,8 yrs) for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D)] and specific plasma cytokine concentrations (interferon-gamma [IFN-γ], interleukin [IL]-4, and IL-10), pentraxine 3, CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD45 before and after cholecalciferol replacement. Before and after cholecalciferol replacement mean 25 (OH) level was 6,1±2,1 ng/dL and 39,7±10,9 ng/dL respectively (p<0,05). There was no difference in CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4 to CD8 ratio, and CD45, serum IL4, IL 10, and pentraxin 3 levels after vitamin D replacement, but there was a significant decrease in white blood cell count, IFN-γ levels (P < 0.05). Cholecalciferol replacement resulted in decrease in proinflammatory cytokine IIFN-γ wherease cholecalsiferol replacement could not induce any change in the serum levels of antiinflammatory cytokines IL4, IL 10 and peripheral blood mononuclear cell subpopulations we studied. It seems that although there are stimuli that simultaneously may induce generation of many cytokines, each cytokine is derived from a distinct pathway that may be affected differentially by vitamin D .