Vitamin D and L-Isoleucine Promote Antimicrobial Peptide hBD-2 Production in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Elderly Individuals

Abstract

Elderly individuals are susceptible to develop infectious diseases; promoting innate immunity to prevent infections is a key issue. Human β-defensin-2 (hBD-2) is an antimicrobial peptide with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. L-isoleucine and vitamin D are important molecules that induce hBD-2. The Aim of this study was to determine the use L-isoleucine and Vitamin D to induce hBD-2 in cells from healthy elderly individuals and elderly individuals with recurrent infections. We explored three groups: young adults (n = 20) used as control group, elderly adults (n = 18) and elderly with recurrent infections (n = 11). PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) were isolated from the different groups and then were treated with L-isoleucine or vitamin D3. hBD-2 concentration was assessed with a sandwich enzyme Immunosorbent assay by triplicate. Using the vehicle as a mock control. Our results showed that a percentage of the individuals responded to the treatments producing hBD-2 (p < 0.05). These results showed that both molecules induced hBD-2 in elderly individuals and can be potentially used as prophylactic therapy to decrease infection diseases rates in this vulnerable group.