Background: Vitamin D3 (VitD3) is known to have immunomodulatory functions, and VitD3 deficiency is associated with more severe asthma.
Objective: We aimed to assess the immunoregulatory effects of VitD3 food supplementation on asthma manifestation, with particular focus on T cells and type 2 innate lymphoid cells.
Methods: Preschool children and adult asthmatic cohorts were analyzed in the context of VitD3 supplementation and serum levels. In a murine model of ovalbumin-induced asthma, effects of diet VitD3 sufficiency and deficiency on T cells and type 2 innate lymphoid cells immune mechanisms were investigated.
Results: We found less severe and better-controlled asthma phenotypes along with reduced need for steroid medication in preschool children and asthmatic adults with VitD3 supplementation. VitD3 serum levels correlated with B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1) expression in blood peripheral mononuclear cells. VitD3-supplement-fed mice showed decreased asthmatic traits, with a decrease in IgE serum levels, reduced airway mucus, and increased IL-10 production by lung cells. Furthermore, we discovered an upregulation of effector T cells and Blimp-1+ lung tissue-resident memory T cells as well as induction of anti-inflammatory Blimp-1+ lung innate lymphoid cells producing IL-10.
Conclusion: Supplementing VitD3 resulted in amelioration of clinical asthma manifestations in human studies as well as in experimental allergic asthma, indicating that VitD3 shifts proinflammatory immune responses to anti-inflammatory immune responses via upregulating Blimp-1 in lung innate lymphoid cells and tissue-resident memory cells.
Keywords: Allergic asthma; Blimp-1; ILC2s; TRM; adult asthma; pediatric asthma; resolution of asthma; vitamin D3; vitamin D3 supplementation.
© 2023 The Author(s).