1,25 (OH)(2)D(3) treatment alters the granulomatous response in M. tuberculosis infected mice

Induction of cathelicidin-mediated antimicrobial pathway against intracellular M. tuberculosis by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)), the active form of vitamin D, has been documented in vitro. However, in in vivo studies related to inflammatory disorders, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) has been demonstrated to induce an anti-inflammatory response. We therefore examined whether in the murine model of tuberculosis, the anti-inflammatory effects of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) would affect the outcome of M. tuberculosis infection. We show here that administration of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) to M. tuberculosis infected mice led to a change in lung granuloma architecture, characterized by a marked decrease in B cell lymphocytic aggregates. Consistent with the altered granulomas, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-treated mice also exhibited significantly higher bacterial burden in the lungs compared to the control group. These findings highlight the need to further investigate the effect of vitamin D on host immunity to M. tuberculosis in the context of the granulomatous response.