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Abstract

Vitamin D₃ is known to have an effect on the immune function. We investigated the immunomodulatory capability of vitamin D₃ in HIV-infected patients and studied the expression of chemokine receptors on regulatory T cells (Treg). Vitamin D₃-deficient HIV-1-seropositive subjects were treated with cholecalciferol (vitamin D₃) at a dose of 800 IU daily for 3 months (n=9) or 25,000 IU weekly for 2 months (n=7). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and analyzed for skin-homing (CCR4 and CCR10) and gut-homing (CCR9 and integrin α₄β₇) marker expression on Treg, by flow cytometry, before and after supplementation. Serum 25(OH)D₃ and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were determined at baseline and after the treatment period. Weekly doses of 25,000 IU cholecalciferol effectively achieved the optimal target serum 25(OH)D₃ concentration of >75 nmol/liter (30 ng/ml) in HIV-infected patients. High-dose cholecalciferol supplementation differentially influenced skin-homing markers on Treg with an increased level of CCR10 expression and while a reduction in CCR4 expression level was observed together with a lower percentage of Treg expressing CCR4. For both dosing regimens, there were no significant differences in the expression of gut-homing markers, CCR9, and integrin α₄β₇. High-dose vitamin D₃ supplementation is needed to reverse vitamin D₃ deficiency in HIV-infected individuals and this results in modulation of skin-homing markers but not gut-homing markers expression on Treg. At a standard dose of 800 IU/day, vitamin D₃ is not effective in achieving an optimal 25(OH)D₃ concentration in patients with an underlying T cell dysfunction and is unable to exert any immunomodulatory effects.

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High-Dose Vitamin D 3 Supplementation Is a Requisite for Modulation of Skin-Homing Markers on Regulatory T Cells in HIV-Infected Patients

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