The Role of Vitamin D and Vitamin D Receptor in Immunity to Leishmania major Infection

Abstract EN

Vitamin D signaling modulates a variety of immune responses.

Here, we assessed the role of vitamin D in immunity to experimental leishmaniasis infection in vitamin D receptor-deficient mice (VDRKO).

We observed that VDRKO mice on a genetically resistant background have decreased Leishmania major-induced lesion development compared to wild-type (WT) mice; additionally, parasite loads in infected dermis were significantly lower at the height of infection.

Enzymatic depletion of the active form of vitamin D mimics the ablation of VDR resulting in an increased resistance to L.

major.

Conversely, VDRKO or vitamin D-deficient mice on the susceptible Th2-biased background had no change in susceptibility.

These studies indicate vitamin D deficiency, either through the ablation of VDR or elimination of its ligand, 1,25D3, leads to an increase resistance to L.

major infection but only in a host that is predisposed for Th-1 immune responses.