Effects of ۱,۲۵-dihydroxyvitamin D۳ on IL-۱۷/IL-۲۳ axis, IFN-γ and IL-۴ expression in systemic lupus erythematosus induced mice model

Objective(s): Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-factorial autoimmune disease which may be characterized by T lymphocytes dysfunctions. Th۱۷ cells have been identified as new effector cells, which play an important role in the pathogenesis. In recent years, immunomodulatory effect of vitamin D۳ has been noticed. In the present experiment, the effect of vitamin D۳ on the expression of IL-۱۷, IL-۲۳, IL-۴ and IFN-γ were assessed in activated chromatin-induced mouse model for SLE. Materials and Methods: Five groups of mice were included in this study; Group one received active chromatin +CFA + PBS; Group ۲ received vitamin D۳  starting ۲ weeks before disease induction; Group ۳ received vitamin D۳ (۵۰ ng/day) starting with the disease establishment; Group ۴ received non active chromatin +CFA + PBS; Group ۵ received CFA + PBS. On day ۵۶ splenocytes were isolated and gene expression of interleukin IL-۱۷, IL-۲۳, IL-۴ and IFN-γ were analyzed by Real-Time PCR method. Proteinuria and serum anti-dsDNA and Th۱۷ levels were measured using commercial kits. Results: The results showed that IL-۱۷, IL-۲۳, and IFN-γ mRNA expression, and IL-۱۷ titers were decreased remarkably and that of IL-۴ increased in mice which received vitamin D۳ before SLE induction. Administration of vitamin D۳ after the establishment of SLE failed to affect the IL-۱۷ or IL-۲۳ mRNA levels. Lastly, pre-treatment of mice with vitamin D۳ decreased the anti-ds DNA antibody titer. Conclusion: Our findings showed that vitamin D۳ supplementation in lupus induced mice through modulating the expression rate of some inflammatory cytokines diminished the inflammatory conditions in SLE.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cytokines ، Mice ، Systemic lupus-erythematosus ، Th۱۷ cells ، Vitamin D