A Case-control Study of Urinary Tract Infection, 25‑hydroxyvitamin D Status and Associated Inflammatory and Regulatory Responses

Background: Vitamin D plays a key role in the modulation of numerous immune functions against infectious agents. We aimed to explore the association between serum 25‑hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH] D) levels and cytokine responses, along with hematological changes, in patients with urinary tract infection...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Leila Pirdel, Manijeh Pirdel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services 2021-02-01
Series:Research in Molecular Medicine
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Online Access:http://rmm.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-407-en.html
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Summary:Background: Vitamin D plays a key role in the modulation of numerous immune functions against infectious agents. We aimed to explore the association between serum 25‑hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH] D) levels and cytokine responses, along with hematological changes, in patients with urinary tract infection (UTI). Materials and Methods: Vitamin D level, cytokines (interferon [IFN]−γ, interleukin [IL]−4, IL−6, IL–10, IL−17A, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]−α, and transforming growth factor [TGF]−β), hematological indices (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio [MLR], neutrophil-to-monocyte ratio [NMR], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR], and mean platelet volume [MPV]), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were evaluated in a case-control human study included 65 patients and 45 controls. Results: Among the enhanced cytokine levels in patients, the cytokines IFN-γ, IL-17A, and IL-10 had a significant association with 25(OH)D, but not IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β. The IL-4 levels remained unchanged. By comparing hematological indices, we found the association of increased NLR and MLR with 25(OH)D and the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17A, along with a decrease in the PLR without showing such an association. The NMR did not show any significant difference. The platelet count showed an association with IL-6, IL-17A, and TGF-β, but the association of MPV with 25(OH)D was significant. The ESR results exhibited statistically non-significant differences. CRP elevation was directly associated with IL-6 and IL-17A, but not with 25(OH)D. Conclusion: 25(OH)D-mediated inflammatory cytokine milieu might alter the proportion and function of peripheral blood cells in a regulated manner to support bacterial clearance which needs further studies to be validated.
ISSN:2322-1348
2322-133X