1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3-dependent inhibition of growth or killing of Mycobacterium avium complex in human macrophages is mediated by TNF and GM-CSF.

Vitamin D3 (D3) has been shown to activate several macrophage functions. To determine whether D3 could activate macrophages to kill or inhibit intracellular growth of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), human monocyte-derived macrophages were treated with D3 (10(-7), 10(-8), and 10(-9) M) 24 hr before or for 48 hr after MAC infection. All three concentrations were associated with inhibition of growth or killing of MAC in a dose-dependent fashion (28 +/- 4% and 22 +/- 3% of killing and inhibition of growth, respectively, at pharmacological concentrations) when added to the monolayer before injection or 60.4 +/- 6%, 50.4 +/- 3%, and 41.4 +/- 6%, respectively, when added to the monolayers after infection. We found that D3-treated macrophages produced increased concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Subsequently, macrophages were activated by D3 in the presence of anti-TNF or anti-GM-CSF antibody: At 10(-9) M of D3 there was no inhibition of D3-dependent macrophage activation by anti-TNF antibody, whereas anti-GM-CSF antibody was associated with 100% inhibition. At 10(-8) M of D3, anti-TNF antibody inhibited 35 +/- 6% of killing, and anti-GM-CSF antibody was associated with 100% inhibition. At 10(-7) M of D3, anti-TNF antibody inhibited 58 +/- 4% and anti-GM-CSF antibody 89 +/- 3% of killing. D3 treatment is associated with anti-MAC activity in human macrophages, and this activity appears to be mediated by both TNF and GM-CSF.