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| Egypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol |
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2010 |
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8 |
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81-86 |
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ESP - 44 |
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| Vitamin D and LL-37 in children with pneumonia |
| Ehab AM. Albanna |
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Yasser F. Ali |
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Reayid AM Elkashnia |
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| Background: Vitamin D is involved in the regulation of about1000 human
genes. Recent studies suggest that vitamin D may have other actions outside
of its classic functions related to bone and calcium homeostasis. The only
human cathelicidin, LL 37, enhances microbial killing against a broad range
of respiratory pathogens and has a defined vitamin D- dependent
mechanism. Objective: evaluate the association between vitamin D status
and plasma LL-37 levels in children with pneumonia. Study design: Forty
consecutive children admitted to the chest unit of the Pediatric Department
of Zagazig University Hospital with proven diagnosis of pneumonia were
included in the study. They were 22 males and 18 females, of ages ranging
from 2 to 5 years. In addition, 40 age and sex matched apparently healthy
children served as a control group. A verbal consent was obtained from
parent(s) of each child before inclusion to the study. All children were
subjected to history taking, clinical examination, routine investigations
(CBC, CRP and ESR) and chest X-ray done for patients only, as well as
determination of serum 25-OH vitamin D and plasma LL-37. Results: The
study revealed a highly significant increase of WBCs, ESR and CRP and a
highly significant decrease in hemoglobin of patients. Absence of history of
sun exposure, increased WBCs counts and low levels of vitamin D and LL-37
were considered as risk factors for pneumonia while site of residence,
hemoglobin level and platelets count were not. Both vitamin D and LL-37
were significantly lower in patients than controls (P<0.001). There were
significant positive correlations between vitamin D and LL-37 in studied
groups. Conclusion: Appropriate concentrations of vitamin D facilitate the
ability of immune system to defend against respiratory tract infections
through enhancing LL-37 production. |
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