Airway infection with Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae is more rapidly eradicated in vitamin D deficient mice

Publication date: Available online 3 November 2018Source: The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyAuthor(s): Jef Serré, Carolien Mathyssen, Tom Tanjeko Ajime, Hannelie Korf, Karen Maes, Nele Heulens, Conny Gysemans, Chantal Mathieu, Bart Vanaudenaerde, Wim Janssens, Ghislaine Gayan-RamirezAbstractChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is characterized by an excessive inflammatory response of the airways, is often complicated by exacerbations. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk for COPD and may predispose COPD patients to a higher exacerbation rate, particularly during smoking. In the current study, we investigated the effect of vitamin D deficiency and cigarette smoke (CS)-exposure on lung inflammation and bacterial clearance after an acute infection with Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). Vitamin D deficient or sufficient mice were exposed to nose-only CS or ambient air for 6 weeks and oropharyngeally instilled with 106 NTHi. Residual viable NTHi were measured at different time points post-infection. Mechanisms of bacterial clearance (e.g. phagocytosis, pattern recognition receptors, antimicrobial peptides, surfactant proteins and mucin) and lung remodeling (e.g. metalloproteinases, MMP’s) were assessed. Although smoking resulted in reduced phagocytosis capacity of macrophages and neutrophils, bacterial clearance was similar to control mice. By contrast and independent of smoking, bacterial clearance was s...
Source: The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research