Immunomodulatory properties of cholecalciferol in rats with experimentally induced inflammation

• Main Authors: Nina Doncheva (Author), Anita Mihaylova (Author), Hristina Zlatanova (Author), Mariya Ivanovska (Author), Delian Delev (Author), Ilia Kostadinov (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Pensoft Publishers, 2024-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3897/pharmacia.71.e122410; 2603-557X
• Keywords: Pharmacy and materia medica; RS1-441
• Source: Pharmacia, Vol 71, Iss , Pp 1-9 (2024)

The study aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) in rats with complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. In the first experiment, rats were treated with cholecalciferol 14 days before or from the day of induction of arthritis. In the second set-up, animals received cholecalciferol for 14 days which was followed by LPS injection. TNF (tumour necrosis factor)-alpha, IL (interleukin)-1β, TGF (transforming growth factor)-β1 levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cholecalciferol treatment reduced paw oedema and ankle joint diameter in AIA. Significantly lower IL-1β concentrations were found in cholecalciferol-treated arthritic rats. In LPS-challenged rats, cholecalciferol markedly lowered serum TNF-α, whereas an elevation in IL-1β concentrations was observed. Cholecalciferol slightly increased TGF-β1 serum concentration in arthritic rats and non-significantly reduced its level in LPS-challenged animals. Our findings showed that cholecalciferol exerts immunomodulatory properties which probably contribute to its anti-inflammatory effect.