Novel protective circulating miRNA are associated with preserved vitamin D levels in patients with mild COVID-19 presentation at hospital admission not progressing into severe disease.

PURPOSE: Low vitamin D levels were reported to negatively influence the outcomes of acute COVID-19, as well as other biochemical markers were linked to COVID-19, including microRNAs (miRNAs). This study aimed to prospectively evaluate miRNAs and vitamin D relationship in predicting COVID-19 outcomes. METHODS: COVID-19 patients were part of a previously reported cohort and enrolled in a matched-ratio based on the presence/or not of severe disease at hospital admission. 25(OH) vitamin D levels and miRNAs expression were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients affected by non-severe COVID-19 were characterized by a higher expression of miRNAs hsa-miR-3115 and hsa-miR-7151-3p, as compared to those affected by severe disease. In non-severe patients, these miRNAs were more frequently expressed in those who subsequently did not develop worsening outcomes. In addition, patients with miRNA-7151 expression and without worsening disease were characterized by higher 25(OH) vitamin D levels and lower prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of two novel miRNAs was reported for the first-time to be associated with a less severe COVID-19 form and to prospectively predict the occurrence of disease outcome. Furthermore, the association observed between vitamin D deficiency and lack of miRNA-7151 expression in COVID-19 patients with worse outcomes may support the hypothesis that the co-existence of these two conditions may have a strong negative prognostic role.

New insights into the vitamin D/PTH axis in endocrine-driven metabolic bone diseases.

BACKGROUND: Endocrine regulation of bone metabolisms is the focus of the "Skeletal Endocrinology" series of meetings. AIMS: To report on the outcome of the discussion on the role of vitamin D/PTH axis in endocrine osteopathies held during the 10th Skeletal Endocrinology Meeting which took place in Stresa (Italy) in March 2023. OUTCOMES: Vitamin D/PTH axis has relevant influence on several outcomes in the general population and in patients affected by endocrinopathies such as hypoparathyroidism and secreting pituitary adenomas. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing the status of the vitamin D/PTH axis and using vitamin D and PTH as therapeutic agents is mandatory in several endocrine-related bone metabolic conditions.

Lack of vitamin D predicts impaired long-term immune response to COVID-19 vaccination.

PURPOSE: Low vitamin D levels were reported to negatively influence the outcome of acute COVID-19, as well as to be linked to Long-COVID. However, few studies have investigated, so far, its effects on humoral-response to anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, reporting conflicting results. We aimed to evaluate the impact of baseline 25(OH)vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels on humoral-response to a two-dose cycle of Pfizer-BioNTech-vaccine up to 9-10 months after immunization. METHODS: We retrospectively included 119 consecutive healthcare-workers (median age 53 years) without a previous history of acute COVID-19 or anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins presence immunized with two doses of Comirnaty-vaccine from January to February 2021. 25(OH)D was measured at time of first-immunization. Immune response was evaluated at: time 0 (T0), before the first-dose; T1, time of second-dose (21 days after T0); T2, T3, T4 at 1, 5 and 9 months after T1, respectively. RESULTS: Median 25(OH)D levels were 25.6 ng/mL, and vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D <20 ng/mL) was observed in 29 subjects (24.8%). In those with vitamin D deficiency, we found a non-significant trend towards lower antibody-titers at T3, and significantly lower titers at T4 as compared to those not vitamin D-deficient, also observing a more pronounced antibody-titers negative drop from peak-T2 and T4 in those with vitamin D deficiency. A positive correlation between 25(OH)D levels and antibody-titers at T4 (p = 0.043) was found. In multiple linear-regression analysis, 25(OH)D deficiency and older-age resulted as negative independent factors associated with antibody titer at T4 (p = 0.026, p = 0.004; respectively). CONCLUSION: In our relatively young cohort presenting low prevalence of hypovitaminosis D, the long-term humoral response to anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was negatively influenced by low baseline 25(OH)D. Vitamin D supplementation could be tested as a strategy to optimize the vaccination campaigns to prevent severe COVID-19.