Regulatory T Cells and Vitamin D Status in Children with Chronic Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Zeynep Şıklar1, Deniz Karataş2, Figen Doğu2, Bülent Hacıhamdioğlu1, Aydan İkincioğulları2, Merih Berberoğlu11Ankara University Faculty Of Medicine, Department Of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ankara, Turkey2Ankara University Faculty Of Medicine, Department Of Pediatric Immunology-Allergy, Ankara, Turkey
Objective: It is suggested that vitamin D is one of the factors that can regulate the function of Treg cells. In this study, the relationships between Treg cells and vitamin D levels was investigated in pediatric chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT) patients.
Methods: Thirty-two children with CAT and 24 healthy subjects were studied. FOXP3 expressing CD4+CD25+high Foxp3+T cells were identified as Treg cells. At diagnosis, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD3) levels were determined in all patients. FOXP3 expression was measured before and after vitamin D replacement therapy in patients having low levels of 25OHD3.
Results: In the CAT patients, Treg cell levels did not differ from the control group, while the frequency of vitamin D deficiency was higher and FOXP3 molecule expression was lower. FOXP3 molecule expression significantly increased in CAT patients having vitamin D deficiency who were given vitamin D replacement.
Conclusion: FOXP3 expression is decreased in pediatric CAT patients. This reduction seems to be associated with vitamin D levels. Vitamin D can play a role in enhancing natural Treg cell functions.
Manuscript Language: English
