Vitamin D3 down-regulates proinflammatory cytokine response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis through pattern recognition receptors while inducing protective cathelicidin production

► 1,25(OH)2D3 induced a down-regulation of IL-6, TNFα and IFNγ when stimulated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ► IL-10 production and cathelicidin mRNA expression were increased. ► 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibited proinflammatory cytokine response through reduced expression of TLR2, TLR4, Dectin-1 and mannose receptor.