Effect of vitamin D3 on maturation and antigen-presenting function of dendritic cells treated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the phenotypic characteristics and functional capability differences of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells after stimulation with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the presence or absence of vitamin D3. Methods: Mouse bone marrow-derived cells were cultured with GM-CSF (20 ng/mL). Then, one was added with 100 nmol/L of 25(OH)D3, while the other did not. On day 6, 5 μg/mL of BCG was added to stimulate the cells for 24 h. On day 7, suspension cells were harvested for phenotypic and functional analyses. Results: The percentages of CD86 dendritic cells (DCs) in the control group and 25(OH)D3 group were 66.97% ± 8.29% and 52.18% ± 8.52%, respectively; the mean fluorescence intensities of MHC-II in the control group and 25(OH)D3 group were 1 102.16 ± 371.02 and 681.62 ± 292.71. The expression levels of MHC- II and CD86 on the surface of the DCs in 25(OH)D3 group were significantly lower than those of the control group. The ability of the DCs to stimulate proliferation of T-lymphocytes was also significantly lower than that of the control group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that 25(OH)D3 modulates the immune response by affecting the maturation and function of DCs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis period.