Vitamin D can reduce severity in COVID-19 through regulation of PD-L1.
Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol
; 395(4): 487-494, 2022 04.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1661670
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 is a highly contagious viral infection that has killed millions of people around the world. The most important diagnostic feature of COVID-19 is lymphocyte depletion, particularly the depletion of T cells. In COVID-19 infections, there is a link between destruction of T cells and increased expression of inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules (PD-1/PD-L1) on T cell surfaces. It was shown that PD-1/PD-L1 levels increase in severely COVID-19 infected individuals. Higher proinflammatory cytokine levels cause increased PD-1/PD-L1 expression. In severe COVID-19, higher proinflammatory cytokine levels may increase PD-1/PD-L1. Vitamin-D is an important immune regulator. It is known that the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes decrease in vitamin D deficiency while vitamin D supplementation increases CD + 4 lymphocytes. Vitamin D can increase regulatory T cell (Treg) activity. Vitamin D also has a diminishing effect on proinflammatory cytokines. In severe COVID-19 cases, vitamin D supplementation may inhibit the increase of PD-L1 expression through reducing proinflammatory cytokine levels. Thus, vitamin D supplementation could eliminate the suppressive effect of PD-L1 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, preventing lymphopenia and reducing disease severity and mortality in patients infected with COVID-19. Besides, vitamin D supplementation can reduce inflammation by increasing Treg activity. The aim of this letter is to discuss the functions of inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules and their effects on dysfunction and depletion of T-cells as well as to explain the possible modulatory effect of vitamin D on these checkpoints and T cells.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Vitamin D
/
B7-H1 Antigen
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S00210-022-02210-w
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