Maternal and Cord Blood 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Are Associated with Increased Cord Blood and Naive and Activated Regulatory T Cells: The Barwon Infant Study

Neonatal Vitamin D and Associations with Longitudinal Changes of Eczema up to 25 Years of Age

BACKGROUND

Early-life vitamin D is a potentially modifiable risk factor for the development of eczema, but there is a lack of data on longitudinal associations.

METHOD

We measured 25(OH)D3 levels from neonatal dried blood spots in 223 high-allergy-risk children. Latent class analysis was used to define longitudinal eczema phenotype up to 25 years (4 subclasses). Skin prick tests (SPTs) to 6 allergens and eczema outcomes at 6 time points were used to define eczema/sensitization phenotypes. Associations between 25(OH)D3 and prevalent eczema and eczema phenotypes were assessed using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Median 25(OH)D3 level was 32.5 nmol/L (P25-P75 = 23.1 nmol/L). Each 10 nmol/L increase in neonatal 25(OH)D3 was associated with a 26% reduced odds of early-onset persistent eczema (adjusted multinomial odds ratio (aMOR) = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.56-0.98) and 30% increased odds of early-onset-resolving eczema (aMOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.05-1.62) when compared to minimal/no eczema up to 12 years. Similar associations were seen for eczema phenotype up to 25 years. We did not see any strong evidence for the association between neonatal 25(OH)D3 and prevalent eczema or eczema/sensitization phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher neonatal 25(OH)D3 levels, a reflection of maternal vitamin D levels in pregnancy, may reduce the risk of early-onset persistent eczema.

Low vitamin D during pregnancy is associated with infantile eczema by up-regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and affecting FOXP3 expression: A bidirectional cohort study

Vitamin D has received increasing attention because of its association with atopic disease development. Limited studies that have been done on the impact of maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy on infantile eczema are still debatable. We wanted to discover the effect of maternal vitamin D on infantile eczema and explore whether regulatory T cells (Treg) play a role in this process. 219 pairs of mothers and children were enrolled. Maternal fasting venous blood was collected in pregnancy's second and third trimesters to determine vitamin D levels. Cord blood and placenta samples were collected during childbirth for detecting levels of genes, proteins and cytokines. Pediatricians followed up the prevalence of eczema in infants within 1 year. The reported rate of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was 35.6% and 28.3%. Lower maternal 25(OH)D3 levels were related to a higher risk of infantile eczema. Foxp3 gene expression is lower in cord blood of infants with eczema compared to infants without eczema. There was a positive correlation between maternal 25(OH)D3 levels and the expression of FOXP3 gene in cord blood. Compared to vitamin D sufficiency women, vitamin D deficiency women's placental FOXP3 protein expression was decreased and PI3K/AKT/mTOR protein was up-regulated. Our study demonstrates that low prenatal maternal vitamin D levels increased the risk of infantile eczema aged 0-1 year, which might be related to the downregulating of the FOXP3 gene expression in cord blood and decreased placental FOXP3 protein expression. Low placental FOXP3 protein was related with activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Detection of CTLA-4 level and humeral immune response after the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine in certain Iraqi provinces participants

BACKGROUND

Evaluating immune responses following COVID-19 vaccination is paramount to understanding vaccine effectiveness and optimizing public health interventions. This study seeks to elucidate individuals' immune status after administering a second dose of diverse COVID-19 vaccines. By analyzing immune responses through serological markers, we aim to contribute valuable insights into the uniformity of vaccine performance.

METHODS

A total of 80 participants were enrolled in this study, with demographic and COVID-19 infection-related data collected for categorization. Serum samples were acquired within a specified timeframe, and SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG rapid tests were conducted. Moreover, CTLA-4 levels were measured through ELISA assays, allowing us to assess the immune responses comprehensively. The participants were divided into eight groups based on various factors, facilitating a multifaceted analysis.

RESULTS

The outcomes of our investigation demonstrated consistent immune responses across the diverse types of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Iraq. Statistical analysis revealed no significant distinctions among the vaccine categories. In contrast, significant differences were observed in CTLA-4 among the control group (non-infected/non-vaccinated, infected/non-vaccinated) and infected/Pfizer, non-infected/Pfizer, and infected/Sinopharm, non-infected/sinopharm (P = 0.001, < 0.001, 0.023, respectively). This suggests that these vaccines exhibit comparable effectiveness in eliciting an immune response among the study participants.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our study's results underscore the lack of discriminatory variations between different COVID-19 vaccine types utilized in Iraq. The uniform immune responses observed signify the equitable efficacy and performance of these vaccines. Despite minor quantitative discrepancies, these variations do not hold statistical significance, reaffirming the notion that the various vaccines serve a similar purpose in conferring protection against COVID-19.

Vitamin D Deficiency as a Risk Factor of Preeclampsia during Pregnancy

A balanced diet is achieved not only via the consumption of a variety of food products but also by ensuring that we take in sufficient quantities the micronutrients necessary for the adequate functioning of the human body, such as vitamins, an important one of which is vitamin D. Vitamin D has been closely linked to bone health. Vitamin D deficiency has often been associated with negative effects concerning several pregnancy adverse outcomes, the most important of which are the birth of SGA newborns, premature birth, and, finally, preeclampsia, which are discussed in this work. The aim of this review is to critically summarize and scrutinize whether the concentration of vitamin D in the blood serum of pregnant women in all its forms may be correlated with the risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy and whether vitamin D levels could act both as a protective agent or as a risk factor or even a prognostic measure of the disease. The association of vitamin D levels with the onset of preeclampsia was examined by searching the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. A total of 31 clinical trials were identified and included in this review, with the aim of summarizing the recent data concerning vitamin D levels and the risk of preeclampsia. Among them, 16 were published in the last five years, and 13 were published within the last a decade. Most studies showed a significant association between vitamin D deficiency and preeclampsia risk. It was also found that the higher the dose, the lower the risk of disease. Of the 31 articles, only 7 of them did not show a significant difference between vitamin D levels and preeclampsia regardless of comorbidity. The results of this review suggest that there is indeed an association between the concentration of vitamin D during pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia; however, further studies are strongly recommended to derive conclusive evidence.

The distribution of dietary choline intake and serum choline levels in Australian women during pregnancy and associated early life factors

BACKGROUND

Maternal dietary choline has a central role in foetal brain development and may be associated with later cognitive function. However, many countries are reporting lower than recommended intake of choline during pregnancy.

METHODS

Dietary choline was estimated using food frequency questionnaires in pregnant women participating in population-derived birth cohort, the Barwon Infant Study (BIS). Dietary choline is reported as the sum of all choline-containing moieties. Serum total choline-containing compounds (choline-c), phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics in the third trimester. The main form of analysis was multivariable linear regression.

RESULTS

The mean daily dietary choline during pregnancy was 372 (standard deviation (SD) 104) mg/day. A total of 236 women (23%) had adequate choline intake (440 mg/day) based on the Australian and New Zealand guidelines, and 27 women (2.6%) took supplemental choline ([Formula: see text] 50 mg/dose) daily during pregnancy. The mean serum choline-c in pregnant women was 3.27 (SD 0.44) mmol/l. Ingested choline and serum choline-c were not correlated (R2) = - 0.005, p = 0.880. Maternal age, maternal weight gain in pregnancy, and a pregnancy with more than one infant were associated with higher serum choline-c, whereas gestational diabetes and environmental tobacco smoke during preconception and pregnancy were associated with lower serum choline-c. Nutrients or dietary patterns were not associated with variation in serum choline-c.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort, approximately one-quarter of women met daily choline recommendations during pregnancy. Future studies are needed to understand the potential impact of low dietary choline intake during pregnancy on infant cognition and metabolic intermediaries.

Household size, T regulatory cell development, and early allergic disease: a birth cohort study

BACKGROUND

Children born to larger households have less allergic disease. T regulatory cell (Treg) development may be a relevant mechanism, but this has not been studied longitudinally.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to (i) describe how prenatal and postnatal environmental factors are associated with Treg development and (ii) investigate whether serial Treg measures predict allergic outcomes at 1 year of age.

METHODS

A birth cohort (n = 1074) with information on prenatal and postnatal early life factors. Both naïve Treg (nTreg) and activated Treg (aTreg) cell populations (as a proportion of CD4⁺ T cells) were available in 463 infants at birth (cord blood), 600 at 6 months, and 675 at 12 months. 191 infants had serial measures. Measures of allergic status at 12 months were polysensitization (sensitization to 2 or more allergens), clinically proven food allergy, atopic eczema, and atopic wheeze.

RESULTS

Infants born to larger households (3 or more residents) had higher longitudinal nTreg proportions over the first postnatal year with a mean difference (MD) of 0.67 (95% CI 0.30-1.04)%. Higher nTreg proportions at birth were associated with a reduced risk of infant allergic outcomes. Childcare attendance and breastfeeding were associated with higher longitudinal nTreg proportions (MD 0.48 (95% CI 0.08-0.80)%.

CONCLUSION

Multiple prenatal and postnatal microbial factors are associated with nTreg and aTreg development. Larger household size was associated with higher nTreg at birth which in turn was associated with reduced allergic sensitization and disease at 12 months of age.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 20-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Upregulate LAIR-1 and Attenuate Collagen Induced Arthritis

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in regulation of the immune response. However, treatment of autoimmune diseases with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)₂D3] doses sufficient to be effective is prohibitive due to its calcemic and toxic effects. We use the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model to analyze the efficacy of the noncalcemic analog of vitamin D, 20S-hydroxyvitamin D3 [20S(OH)D3], as well as 1,25(OH)₂D3, to attenuate arthritis and explore a potential mechanism of action. Mice fed a diet deficient in vitamin D developed a more severe arthritis characterized by enhanced secretion of T cell inflammatory cytokines, compared to mice fed a normal diet. The T cell inflammatory cytokines were effectively suppressed, however, by culture of the cells with 20S(OH)D3. Interestingly, one of the consequences of culture with 1,25(OH)₂D3 or 20S(OH)D3, was upregulation of the natural inhibitory receptor leukocyte associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 (LAIR-1 or CD305). Polyclonal antibodies which activate LAIR-1 were also capable of attenuating arthritis. Moreover, oral therapy with active forms of vitamin D suppressed arthritis in LAIR-1 sufficient DR1 mice, but were ineffective in LAIR-1^−/− deficient mice. Taken together, these data show that the effect of vitamin D on inflammation is at least, in part, mediated by LAIR-1 and that non-calcemic 20S(OH)D3 may be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis.