gracelive

AUTHOR: SEOK WOO YANG, MD & PhD

CONTACT: E mail: soplab@outlook.kr

DATE: 2020.03.17

CONTENT:

 In the pulmonary cases of COVID-19, Xu et al found the cytotoxic T cells with cytolytic activity which is associated with Th17 CD4 T cells polarized by IL-6 and TGF-β. This immunopathology led to diffuse alveolar and interstitial damage with pulmonary edema, pathologically and subsequent acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) and secondary pneumonia, clinically.[1]   

 As a nutritional candidate to modulate both IL-6 and TGF-β, vitamin D can be considered. 

 Dalvi et al reported that the serum level of IL-6 was significantly increased and vitamin D3 decreased in tuberculosis multidrug-resistant group. Conversely, we can expect that the elevated serum level of vitamin D may reduce that of IL-6.[2]

 Hu et al mentioned the protecting role of vitamin D in diabetic nephropathy. One of the mechanisms to suppress pro-inflammatory responses was to inhibit production of TGF-β.[3]

 In conclusion, because the problematic immunopathology in the lung injury by COVID-19 is the elevated serum levels of IL-6 and TGF-β, we can infer that vitamin D to counteract these inflammatory responses may play a role somewhat in ameliorating the lung injury by COVID-19. About this, further studies will be necessary. 

REFERENCE:

[1] Xu Z, Shi L, Wang Y, Zhang J, et al. Pathological findings of COVID-19 associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Lancet Respir Med. 2020;S2213-2600(20)30076-X.

[2] Dalvi SM, Ramraje NN, Patil VW, Hegde R, Yeram N. Study of IL-6 and vitamin D3 in patients of pulmonary tuberculosis. Indian J Tuberc. 2019 Jul;66(3):337-345.

[3] Hu X, Liu W, Yan Y, Liu H, Huang Q, Xiao Y, Gong Z, Du J. Vitamin D protects against diabetic nephropathy: Evidence-based effectiveness and mechanism. Eur J Pharmacol. 2019 Feb 15;845:91-98.