Implication of Vitamin D-associated factors in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease

BACKGROUND: Little information is available regarding Vitamin D-associated factors in patients with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease. O B JE C T IVE : To determine the association between Vitamin D-related factors and susceptibility to NTM lung disease. DESIGN: The relative gene expression levels of cathelicidin (CAMP), defensin (DEFB4), Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and 1a-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), as well as the serum levels of 25-hydroxyVitamin D (25[OH]D), cathelicidin (LL-37), defensin (hBD-2) and Vitamin Dbinding protein (DBP) from 82 patients with NTM lung disease and 28 control subjects were analysed. RESULT S : Gene expression of CAMP and DEFB4 was significantly higher, and gene expression of VDR and CYP27B1 was significantly lower, in NTM patients than controls. Serum LL-37 and hBD-2 levels were not significantly different between NTM patients and controls; however, the serum DBP level was higher in NTM patients than controls. The serum Vitamin D status of patients did not correlate with serum LL-37, hBD-2, or DBP concentration or gene expression of CAMP, DEFB4, VDR or CYP27B1. CONCLUS ION: A higher level of gene expression for antimicrobial peptide is more likely to be associated with NTM lung disease than serum Vitamin D status.