Vitamin D decreases CD40L gene expression in ulcerative colitis patients: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: The Turkish journal of gastroenterology Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 99 - 104
• Main Authors: Sharifi, Amrollah, Vahedi, Homayoon, Honarvar, Mohammad Reza, Amiriani, Taghi, Nikniaz, Zeinab, Rad, Esmaeil Yousefi, Hosseinzadeh-Attar, Mohammad Javad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: AVES 01-02-2020; Turkish Society of Gastroenterology
• Subjects: Alfacalcidol; Analysis; Biochemistry; Calcifediol; Clinical trials; Colitis; Cytokines; Diet therapy; Diseases; Gastrointestinal diseases; Gene expression; Genes; Messenger RNA; Original; RNA; Ulcerative colitis; Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency; Vitamins; Iran
• ISSN: 1300-4948; 2148-5607
• DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2020.181028

Background/Aims: The interaction of CD40 ligand (CD40L) and CD40 triggers the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It has been proposed that vitamin D deficiency might be an important factor, which causes or aggregates the autoimmune situations. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of vitamin D on CD40L gene expression in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Materials and Methods: Ninety mild-to-moderate UC patients were randomized to receive a single injection of 7.5 mg cholecalciferol or 1 mL normal saline. At baseline and 90 days following the intervention, RNA samples from whole blood were obtained. Fold changes in CD40L mRNA expression were determined for each patient using the 2-??Cq method. The data were analyzed. Results: The serum levels of vitamin D and calcium increased only in the vitamin D group (p<0.05). Relative to baseline values, the CD40L gene expression fold change was significantly lower in the vitamin D group compared with the placebo group (median[+ or -]interquartile range: 0.34[+ or -]0.30 vs 0.43[+ or -]1.20, respectively, p=0.016). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that vitamin D administration in mild-to-moderate UC patients led to the downregulation of the CD40L gene, which is an essential part of inflammatory pathways. Keywords: Cholecalciferol, Inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, CD40 ligand