The effect of cholecalciferol subsidies on the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in children with bronchial asthma

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, there are insufficient studies to demonstrate the effect of vitamin D status on the production of proinflammatory cytokines in children with allergic diseases, which precipitated this study.Aim. To analyse interferon-γ, interleukin-17A and 33 profiles in children with asthma according to serum calcidiol levels before and during cholecalciferol subsidies.Materials and methods. A total of 71 children aged 3 to 18 years were examined: 51 patients with asthma and 20 children in the control group. A 3-month cholecalciferol course at a prophylactic dose specified in the national program was prescribed to all children. 25(OH)D, interferon-γ, interleukin-17A and 33 levels were twice determined in the examined children.Results and discussion. Median 25(OH)D levels in patients with asthma did not reach the levels of healthy children either before or after cholecalciferol subsidies at prophylactic doses. Vitamin D intake led to a decrease in interferon-γ levels in healthy children from 3.07 [2.29; 4.81] pg/ml to 2.18 [1.74; 3.45] pg/ml (p < 0.05). In patients with asthma, such changes were not detected in the initial population, however, after cholecalciferol subsidies their interferon-γ levels were significantly higher than those in healthy children: 3.11 [0.89; 5.0] pg/ml and 2.18 [1.74; 3.45] pg/ml, respectively (p < 0.05). Assessment results of interleukin-17A levels in children with asthma showed that the median cytokine levels were significantly higher before the cholecalciferol subsidies than after them: 2.03 [0.1; 10.01] pg/ml and 0.96 [0.1; 12.87] pg/ml, respectively (p = 0.03). The median interleukin-17A levels in children with asthma were significantly higher than in healthy children, both before and during the cholecalciferol subsidies. The median interleukin-33 levels were significantly higher in children with asthma as compared to healthy children, both before and during vitamin D subsidies.Conclusion. Our results suggest that cholecalciferol has a modulatory effect on interferon-γ and interleukin-17A in patients with asthma. Interleukin-33 levels did not change significantly in children with asthma on cholecalciferol.