BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that prenatal vitamin D intake may protect against the development of atopic diseases in young children. Vitamin D has been shown to induce tolerogenic antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells. Whether the allergy-protective potential of prenatal vitamin D is mediated through such mechanisms is, however, unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between prenatal vitamin D supplementation and tolerogenic antigen-presenting cells in cord blood (CB) as determined by mRNA measurement of immunoglobulin-like transcripts (ILT)3 and ILT4. METHODS: A prospective multi-centre birth cohort was established in rural areas of five European countries. Information on maternal exposures including vitamin D intake was collected by questionnaires during pregnancy. The gene expression of ILT3 and ILT4 was analysed by real-time PCR in the CB of 927 children. Maternal vitamin D supplementation was assessed in Finland and France (n=349). RESULTS: Maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy was associated with an increase in the gene expression of ILT3 (P=0.012) and ILT4 (P<0.001). This association remained significant for ILT4 (P=0.020) and showed a positive trend for the gene expression of ILT3 (P=0.059) after multivariate analysis controlling for various confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may increase the mRNA levels of ILT3 and ILT4 in CB. This finding may point towards an early induction of tolerogenic immune responses by maternal vitamin D intake.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that prenatal vitamin D intake may protect against the development of atopic diseases in young children. Vitamin D has been shown to induce tolerogenic antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells. Whether the allergy-protective potential of prenatal vitamin D is mediated through such mechanisms is, however, unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between prenatal vitamin D supplementation and tolerogenic antigen-presenting cells in cord blood (CB) as determined by mRNA measurement of immunoglobulin-like transcripts (ILT)3 and ILT4. METHODS: A prospective multi-centre birth cohort was established in rural areas of five European countries. Information on maternal exposures including vitamin D intake was collected by questionnaires during pregnancy. The gene expression of ILT3 and ILT4 was analysed by real-time PCR in the CB of 927 children. Maternal vitamin D supplementation was assessed in Finland and France (n=349). RESULTS: Maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy was associated with an increase in the gene expression of ILT3 (P=0.012) and ILT4 (P<0.001). This association remained significant for ILT4 (P=0.020) and showed a positive trend for the gene expression of ILT3 (P=0.059) after multivariate analysis controlling for various confounders. CONCLUSIONS:Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may increase the mRNA levels of ILT3 and ILT4 in CB. This finding may point towards an early induction of tolerogenic immune responses by maternal vitamin D intake.
Authors: Erika von Mutius; Juha Pekkanen; Pirkka V Kirjavainen; Anne M Karvonen; Rachel I Adams; Martin Täubel; Marjut Roponen; Pauli Tuoresmäki; Georg Loss; Balamuralikrishna Jayaprakash; Martin Depner; Markus Johannes Ege; Harald Renz; Petra Ina Pfefferle; Bianca Schaub; Roger Lauener; Anne Hyvärinen; Rob Knight; Dick J J Heederik Journal: Nat Med Date: 2019-06-17 Impact factor: 53.440
Authors: Hooman Mirzakhani; Vincent J Carey; Robert Zeiger; Leonard B Bacharier; George T O'Connor; Michael X Schatz; Nancy Laranjo; Scott T Weiss; Augusto A Litonjua Journal: Clin Exp Allergy Date: 2019-01-03 Impact factor: 5.018
Authors: Daniel A Enquobahrie; Michelle A Williams; Chunfang Qiu; David S Siscovick; Tanya K Sorensen Journal: J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med Date: 2011-01-10