Document Type
Article
Source of Publication
PLoS ONE
Publication Date
5-1-2024
Abstract
Background The role of vitamin D3 (VitD3) in modulating innate and adaptive immunity has been reported in different disease contexts. Since the start of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the role of VitD3 has been highlighted in many correlational and observational studies. However, the exact mechanisms of action are not well identified. One of the mechanisms via which VitD3 modulates innate immunity is by regulating the NLRP3-inflammasome pathway, being a main underlying cause of SARS-CoV-2-induced hyperinflammation. Aims and main methods Blood specimens of severe COVID-19 patients with or without VitD3 treatment were collected during their stay in the intensive care unit and patients were followed up for 29 days. qPCR, western blot, and ELISA were done to investigate the mechanism of action of VitD3 on the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Key findings We here report the ability of VitD3 to downregulate the NLRP3-inflammsome pathway in severe COVID-19 patients. Lower inflammasome pathway activation was observed with significantly lower gene and protein expression of NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, ASC and IL-1β among severe COVID-19 patients treated with VitD3. The reduction of the inflammasome pathway was associated with a reduction in disease severity markers and enhancement of type I IFN pathway. Significance Our data reveals an important anti-inflammatory effect of VitD3 during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further investigations are warranted to better characterize the ability of VitD3 to control disease pathogenesis and prevent progression to severe states. This will allow for a more efficient use of a low cost and accessible treatment like VitD3.
DOI Link
ISSN
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Volume
19
Issue
5 May
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Keywords
Vitamin D3, NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, COVID-19, Innate immunity, SARS-CoV-2
Scopus ID
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Khalil, Bariaa; Sharif-Askari, Narjes Saheb; Hafezi, Shirin; Sharif-Askari, Fatemeh Saheb; Anouti, Fatme Al; Hamid, Qutayba; and Halwani, Rabih, "Vitamin D regulates COVID-19 associated severity by suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway" (2024). All Works. 6588.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/6588
Indexed in Scopus
yes
Open Access
yes
Open Access Type
Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series