Publication Date

2015

Journal Title

Arthritis Rheumatol

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D modulates the immune response and blocks induction of an interferon (IFN) signature by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sera. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the IFN signature in patients with SLE. METHODS: SLE patients (n = 57) with stable, inactive disease, a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level/=30 ng/ml) was not observed in any of the patients who were receiving placebo, while repletion was observed in 16 of 33 patients receiving vitamin D3 . The percentage of patients with an IFN signature response did not differ among the treatment groups. Moreover, there was no difference in the percentage of patients with an IFN signature response between those who remained vitamin D deficient and those who demonstrated repletion of vitamin D. Modular microarray analysis of a subset of patients (n = 40) did not reveal changes from baseline in any modules (including the IFN-inducible module) in any of the treatment groups, and no differences in expression were found between patients who demonstrated vitamin D repletion and patients who were persistently vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D3 was well tolerated, and there were no safety concerns. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D3 supplementation up to 4,000 IU daily was safe and well-tolerated but failed to diminish the IFN signature in vitamin D-deficient SLE patients. Higher 25(OH)D levels sustained for a longer duration may be required to affect immunologic outcomes.

Volume Number

67

Issue Number

7

Pages

1848-57

Document Type

Article

EPub Date

2015/03/18

Status

Faculty, Northwell Researcher

Facility

School of Medicine; Northwell Health

Primary Department

Molecular Medicine

Additional Departments

General Internal Medicine; Allergy and Immunology

PMID

25777546

DOI

10.1002/art.39108


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