Vitamin D nutritional status and vitamin D regulated antimicrobial peptides in serum and pleural fluid of patients with infectious and noninfectious pleural effusions.
Amado. Carlos A CA; García-Unzueta. María T MT; Fariñas. M Carmen MC; Santos. Francisca F; Ortiz. María M; Muñoz-Cacho. Pedro P; Amado. José A JA
Key Findings
- All patient groups had low serum 25‑OH‑vitamin D (vitamin D deficiency).
- LL‑37 levels were higher in serum and pleural fluid of infectious effusions, especially complicated infections.
- β‑defensin‑2 was not produced in the pleural space in any group.
- The measured molecules showed only moderate ability to distinguish types of pleural effusions.
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, the work suggests that vitamin D deficiency is widespread in serious lung conditions, but it doesn’t provide a clear, actionable protocol for using LL‑37 or vitamin D to improve longevity or performance. The findings are mainly clinical and not directly translatable to everyday supplementation or anti‑aging strategies.
Summary
The study looked at vitamin D levels and two antimicrobial peptides (LL‑37 and β‑defensin‑2) in the blood and fluid around the lungs of people with different types of pleural effusions. It found that low vitamin D is common, LL‑37 is higher in infections (especially complicated ones), and β‑defensin‑2 isn’t produced in the pleural space. The peptides didn’t prove very good at diagnosing the cause of the effusion.
Abstract
Vitamin D and vitamin D dependent antimicrobial peptides such as Cathelicidin (LL-37) and β-defensin 2 have an important role in innate and adaptative immunity, but their role in pleural effusions has not been studied before. Serum and pleural fluid samples from 152 patients with pleural effusion were collected, corresponding to 45 transudates and 107 exudates, 51 infectious effusions (14 complicated and 37 non-complicated), 44 congestive heart failure effusions and 38 malignant effusions. The levels of 25 OH-vitamin D, 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D, Vitamin D Binding Protein (VDBP), LL-37 and β-defensin 2, both in serum and pleural fluid were evaluated in this prospective study. Differences between groups were analysed using unpaired t tests or Mann-Whitney tests. Correlations between data sets were examined using Pearson correlation coefficient or Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Diagnostic accuracy was estimated using ROC curve analysis. Low serum 25 OH vitamin D levels were found in all groups. Infectious effusions (IE) had higher serum and pleural fluid LL-37 levels compared to congestive heart failure or malignant effusions. Among IE, complicated had higher serum and pleural fluid LL-37 levels, and lower serum β-defensin-2 levels. Positive correlations were found between serum 25 OH-vitamin D levels and serum or pleural 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D levels, and between 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D and LL-37 serum. Diagnostic accuracy of the different molecules was moderate at best. Hypovitaminosis D is highly prevalent in pleural effusions. LL-37 is produced intrapleurally in IE. This production is higher in complicated IE. No evidence of pleural production of β-defensin 2 was found in any of the groups. Diagnostic accuracy of the different molecules is at the best moderate for discriminating different types of effusions.
Study Information
pubmed
2016
2016-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
10.1186/s12890-016-0259-4
6
19