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Low vitamin D status is associated with low cord blood levels of the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin‐10
Author(s) -
Zittermann Armin,
Dembinski Jörg,
Stehle Peter
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2004.00140.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d and neurology , season of birth , cord blood , cytokine , vitamin d deficiency , gestational age , immunology , physiology , endocrinology , pregnancy , biology , psychiatry , genetics
The cytokine interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) plays a pivotal regulatory role in tolerizing exogenous antigens. Experimental data indicate that low cellular availability of the vitamin D hormone 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH) 2 D] results in a down‐regulation of IL‐10 concentrations. The tissue production of an adequate amount of 1,25(OH) 2 D depends on a high circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OHD) level. The present study was thus aimed at evaluating the associations between season of birth, vitamin D status, and the allergy risk markers IL‐10 and total immunoglobulin (IgE) in newborns. Cord blood was obtained from 49 infants born during the summer half year (mid‐April to mid‐October, geographic latitude 51°N) and from 47 infants born during the winter half year (mid‐October to mid‐April, geographic latitude of 51°N). Serum levels of 25‐OHD were 99% higher, and IL‐10 levels were 43% higher in the summer half year compared with the winter half year (p < 0.001 and p = 0.018). Moreover, the ratio of IL‐10 to total IgE was 124% higher in the summer half year compared with the winter half year (p = 0.039). Serum levels of 25‐OHD were correlated with IL‐10 levels ( r = +0.22; p < 0.05). Mothers’ age, gestational ages, birth weights and serum 1,25(OH) 2 D levels did not differ between study groups. We conclude that the low vitamin D status of infants born in winter may at least in part adversely affect biomarkers of allergy risk.