Vitamin D status and its modulatory effect on interferon gamma and interleukin-10 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in culture

•In PBMCs culture, vitamin D inhibits IFN-γ production.•In PBMCs culture, vitamin D increases IL-10 production.•Serum vitamin D status had no influence on the amount of cytokine produced in culture.

ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the influence of vitamin D on the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10), in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures.MethodsThirty healthy subjects were investigated. Serum levels of calcium, 25(OH) D, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were assessed. PBMCs were activated in-vitro by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in the presence and absence of vitamin D3 and then levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 were determined in culture supernatant using enzyme immunoassay.ResultsSerum calcium levels were significantly lower in the vitamin D deficient group while serum PTH levels were significantly higher in the vitamin D deficient group. PTH levels were inversely correlated to both calcium and 25(OH) D levels. In culture, vitamin D inhibited IFN-γ production and increased IL-10 production by PBMCs. Serum vitamin D status had no influence on the amount of cytokine produced in culture.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that vitamin D modulates IFN-γ and IL-10 production and provides a rationale for evaluating vitamin D as an immunomodulatory agent.