目的:维生素D被认为会影响免疫系统的功能,以预防冠状病毒病。为了研究这种维生素对冠状病毒的作用,这项研究分析了维生素D的血清水平,炎症细胞因子的转录模式,和总淋巴细胞的频率,TCD4+,TCD8+,与50名健康参与者相比,50名受COVID-19影响的受试者和NK细胞。
方法:本研究诊断并评估了100名患者。使用流式细胞术确定淋巴细胞的频率。使用实时PCR测量细胞因子表达水平。通过ELISA测量培养细胞上清液中的血清维生素D水平和细胞因子水平。
结果:与健康参与者相比,COVID-19患者的血清维生素D水平降低(p=0.0024)。淋巴细胞总数,TCD4+,TCD8+,COVID-19患者的NK细胞显着减少(p<0.0001)。IL-12、IFN-γ、与对照组相比,COVID-19患者中可见TNF-α,而IFN-α在COVID-19患者中下调。ELISA结果也有IL-12、TNF-α、和IFN-γ(分别为p=0.0014、0.0012和p<0.0001),与对照组相比,COVID-19患者的IFN-α水平降低(p=0.0021)。
结论:这些发现表明维生素D浓度之间可能存在关联,免疫系统功能,和COVID-19感染的风险。因此,建议将维生素D视为治疗和控制COVID-19的候选药物,因为它具有靶向细胞因子风暴的能力及其抗病毒作用。
OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D is believed to affect the functionality of the immune system for the prevention of coronavirus disease. To investigate the role of this vitamin against the Coronavirus, this study analyzed the serum levels of vitamin D, the transcription pattern of inflammatory cytokines, and the frequency of total lymphocytes, TCD4+, TCD8+, and NK cells in 50 COVID-19-affected subjects in comparison to 50 healthy participants.
METHODS: This study diagnosed and evaluated 100 patients. Frequency of lymphocytes was determined using flow cytometry. Cytokine expression levels were measured using Real-Time PCR. Serum levels of vitamin D and cytokines levels in cultured cell supernatant were measured by ELISA.
RESULTS: Patients with COVID-19 exhibited decreased serum levels of vitamin D versus the healthy participants (p = 0.0024). The total number of lymphocytes, TCD4+, TCD8+, and NK cells was significantly reduced in patients with COVID-19 (p < 0.0001). Considerable upregulation of IL-12, IFN-γ, and TNF-α was seen in COVID-19 patients compared to the control group, whereas IFN-α was downregulated in COVID-19 patients. ELISA results also had increased levels of IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ (p = 0.0014, 0.0012, and p < 0.0001, respectively), and decreased level of IFN-α (p = 0.0021) in patients with COVID-19 compared to the control group.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a probable association among vitamin D concentrations, immune system function, and risk of COVID-19 infection. As a result, it is recommended that vitamin D be considered as a candidate for handling and controlling COVID-19 because of its ability to target the cytokine storm and its antiviral effects.