A comparison of vitamin D and cathelicidin (LL-37) levels between patients with active TB and their
healthy contacts in a high HIV prevalence setting: a prospective descriptive study.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2021;
116:336-343. [PMID:
34401915 PMCID:
PMC8978298 DOI:
10.1093/trstmh/trab126]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Studies from Asia and Europe indicate an association between vitamin D deficiency and susceptibility to TB. We performed an observational case-control study to determine vitamin D and cathelicidin (LL-37) levels and their association with active TB in newly diagnosed and microbiologically confirmed adult TB patients in Zambia, a high HIV prevalence setting.
METHODS
Both total vitamin D and LL-37 were measured using ELISA from serum and supernatant isolated from cultured whole blood that was stimulated with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA statistical software version 12.
RESULTS
The median vitamin D in TB patients and healthy contacts was 28.7 (19.88-38.64) and 40.8 (31.2-49.44) ng/ml, respectively (p<0.001). The median LL-37 in TB patients compared with healthy contacts was 1.87 (2.74-8.93) and 6.73 (5.6-9.58) ng/ml, respectively (p=0.0149). Vitamin D correlation with LL-37 in healthy contacts was R2=0.7 (95% CI 0.566 to 0.944), p<0.0001. Normal vitamin D significantly predicted a healthy status (OR 4.06, p=0.002).
CONCLUSIONS
Significantly lower levels of vitamin D and LL-37 are seen in adults with newly diagnosed active TB. Longitudinal studies across various geographical regions are required to accurately define the roles of vitamin D and LL-37 in preventive and TB treatment outcomes.
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