Antimicrobial and immune-modulatory effects of vitamin D provide promising antibiotics-independent approaches to tackle bacterial infections – lessons learnt from a literature survey

Abstract

Antimicrobial multidrug-resistance (MDR) constitutes an emerging threat to global health and makes the effective prevention and treatment of many, particularly severe infections challenging, if not impossible. Many antibiotic classes have lost antimicrobial efficacy against a plethora of infectious agents including bacterial species due to microbial acquisition of distinct resistance genes. Hence, the development of novel anti-infectious intervention strategies including antibiotic-independent approaches is urgently needed. Vitamins such as vitamin D and vitamin D derivates might be such promising molecular candidates to combat infections caused by bacteria including MDR strains. Using the Pubmed database, we therefore performed an in-depth literature survey, searching for publications on the antimicrobial effect of vitamin D directed against bacteria including MDR strains. In vitro and clinical studies between 2009 and 2019 revealed that vitamin D does, in fact, possess antimicrobial properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species, whereas conflicting results could be obtained from in vivo studies. Taken together, the potential anti-infectious effects for the antibiotic-independent application of vitamin D and/or an adjunct therapy in combination with antibiotic compounds directed against infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, H. pylori infections, or skin diseases, for instance, should be considered and further investigated in more detail.

Vitamin E as promising adjunct treatment option in the combat of infectious diseases caused by bacterial including multi-drug resistant pathogens – Results from a comprehensive literature survey

“…According to previous in vitro and in vivo investigations, distinct vitamins such as vitamin D and vitamin C exhibited antimicrobial properties [ 34 , 35 ]. Vitamin D, for instance, displayed antibacterial effects against Porphyromonas gingivalis [ 36 ], Streptococcus mutans [ 37 ], and Helicobacter pylori [ 38 ].…”

Vitamin D3 Inhibits Helicobacter pylori Infection by Activating the VitD3/VDR-CAMP Pathway in Mice

“…VitD3 is an important biologically active substance without obvious side effects. In addition to modulating the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, its antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions have been demonstrated (Golpour et al, 2019). For example, VitD3 has been reported to be an effective agent to treat tuberculosis by inhibiting mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan and reducing inflammation in the lungs of patients (Liu et al, 2007;Schauber et al, 2007), with similar effects having been shown toward other bacteria, such as E. coli.…”

“…The synthesis and secretion of CAMPs by host cells are significantly enhanced when these cells are exposed to environmental microorganisms and bacteria (Lapis, 2008). As small molecule cationic peptides, CAMPs not only destroy bacteria by directly binding to their cell walls but also inhibit biofilm formation by a variety of bacteria, including P. aeruginosa, Francisella novisida, uropathogenic E. coli, S. aureus, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitan (Golpour et al, 2019). The results of several studies have demonstrated that the antiinfection role of VitD3 against M. tuberculosis is closely associated with VitD3/VDR-signal mediated antimicrobial responses and the production of CAMP (Liu et al, 2007).…”

Metal–Peptide Complexes as Promising Antibiotics to Fight Emerging Drug Resistance: New Perspectives in Tuberculosis

“…For example, in a Tb infection, Mtb down-regulates the expression of LL-37 in human macrophages; this reduction can be counteracted by treating the infected macrophages with vitD3, phenylbutyrate (PBA), or their combination [33]. Indeed, 1,25(OH) 2 -vitamin D modulates cathelicidin and defensin gene expression in innate immune cells, such as monocytes and macrophages [34].…”