ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has health benefits in many respiratory diseases but the evidence in CF is unclear. Induction of the antimicrobial peptides cathelicidin (LL37) and human-beta-defensin-2 (HBD-2) may be the mechanism of any benefit. We hypothesised that antimicrobial peptide levels would be decreased, and airway infection and inflammation greater, in CF children with vitamin D deficiency. The objective of the study was to explore relationships between vitamin D, LL37 and HBD-2, and airway infection, inflammation and physiology in children with CF. METHODS: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF) and blood were obtained from children undergoing fibreoptic bronchoscopy. Serum vitamin D, BALF HBD-2 and LL37, cultured bacteria and inflammatory markers were measured. Clinical parameters were recorded. RESULTS: 113 patients with CF, 23 with non-CF chronic suppurative lung disease (CSLD) and 6 healthy controls were included. We found no relationship between serum vitamin D and BALF HBD-2 or LL-37. There were no differences in infective or inflammatory markers between vitamin D sufficient and deficient groups. Vitamin D deficient patients (<50â¯nmol/L) did not have a worse FEV1 (CF: 66 (58-71)% vs. 71.5 (61-76)%, ns; non-CF CSLD: 69 (36-88)% vs. 70 (62-95)%, ns). CONCLUSIONS: In the first bronchoscopic study exploring this question, we demonstrate that vitamin D deficiency is not associated with immunological, infective or clinical markers of disease severity in patients with CF or CSLD.
Subject(s)
Cystic Fibrosis/complications , Vitamin D Deficiency/complications , Adolescent , Biomarkers/analysis , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/chemistry , Bronchoscopy , Child , Child, Preschool , Cystic Fibrosis/microbiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Respiratory Function TestsABSTRACT
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is caused by a large number of mutations in the CFTR gene, leading to specific classes of protein defects. This review discusses these classes, an understanding of which has paved the way for novel treatment strategies. The progress in this field, through from basic research to, in one case, application for license, is described.
