ISSN 2169-3048
International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN: 2169-3048 Vol. 2 (9), pp. 490-496, September, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
Full length research paper
The associations among serum levels of vitamin D, TGF-β/IL-6 balance and Treg/Th17 balance in systemic lupus erythematosus patients in Indonesia
Kusworini Handono1, Dian Hasanah2, Handono Kalim3, Herin Mawarti4
1Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia
2Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia
3Rheumatology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia
4Fundamental of Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Science, Pesantren Tinggi Darul Ulum University, Jombang, Indonesia.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +6281334933663 / +623412202220
Accepted 2 April, 2013
Abstract
TGF-β1 is required for T lymphocytes differentiation toward Treg and Th17.Differentiationtoward Th17 becomes dominant in high levels of IL-6. Some studies showed that vitamin D decreased IL-6 production and increased TGF-β1production. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations among serum levels of vitamin D, TGF-β1/IL-6 balance and Treg/Th17 balance in SLE.Serum levels of vitamin D, IL-6 and TGF-β1, as well as Treg and Th17 percentage were assessed in 41 SLE patients and 20 healthy controls. Serum levels of vitamin D, TGF-β1 and IL-6 were measured using ELISA. Treg and Th17 percentage were the percentage of CD25+FoxP3+CD4+ and CD3+CD4+IL-17+,respectively, detected by flow cytometry. Vitamin D and TGF-β1 levels were lower in SLE (p<0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). While IL-6 levels, Treg percentage and Th17 percentage were higher in SLE (p=0.006, p=0.007, and p=0.017, respectively). Vitamin D levels were negatively correlated to IL-6 levels (r=-0.325, p=0.019). TGF-β1/IL-6 ratio was negatively correlated to Th17 percentage (r=-0.559, p=0.010). Conclusively, in SLE patients whose vitamin D levels are low, IL-6 levels will increase, resulting in dominance of IL-6 over TGF-β1, which direct the differentiation of T lymphocytes toward Th17. The number of Treg will increase to suppress Th17.
Key words: SLE, vitamin D, Treg, Th17, TGF-b1, IL-6.