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Correlation between the cord vitamin D levels and regulatory T cells in newborn infants

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Abstract

Vitamin D is important for calcium homeostasis, muscle, and bone health. It has also immunomodulatory capacities in vivo and in vitro. Regulatory T cells (Treg) have been found to suppress a number of T cell-mediated immune disorders, including allergic responses and autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and the regulatory T cells in cord blood. The study group is comprised of 101 full-term newborn infants. Umbilical cord 25(OH)D levels and number and percentage of T lymphocyte, T helper, and Treg cells were measured. Infants were grouped according to 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (25(OH)D <12 ng/ml and 25(OH)D >12 ng/ml) (converting factor of 25OHD level into SI unit, 2.6). Severe vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D <12 ng/ml) was observed in 32% of the infants. There was no significant correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and T cell number and percentages. There were also no significant differences in white blood cell, total lymphocyte count, T helper, and Treg cell percentage and number between groups. These results suggest that the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is not crucially involved in the correlation between vitamin D status and T cell regulation in cord blood.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Berkan Gürakan for the helpful comments for this study. We also thank Ömer Keleş, Ayşegül Haberal, and Ilknur Kozanoğlu for the technical support and for providing us the laboratory data during the study period.

Conflicts of interest

Authors declare no financial interests with the organization that sponsored the research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey

    Ayşegül Güven

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neonatology, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey

    Ayşe Ecevit

  3. Adana Teaching and Medical Research Center, Hematology Research Laboratory, Baskent University, Adana, Turkey

    Oktay Sözer

  4. Etlik Maternity Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Aytül Tarcan

  5. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neonatology, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey

    Aylin Tarcan

  6. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Hematology, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey

    Namık Özbek

Authors
  1. Ayşegül Güven
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  2. Ayşe Ecevit
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  3. Oktay Sözer
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  4. Aytül Tarcan
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  5. Aylin Tarcan
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  6. Namık Özbek
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Correspondence to Aylin Tarcan.

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Güven, A., Ecevit, A., Sözer, O. et al. Correlation between the cord vitamin D levels and regulatory T cells in newborn infants. Eur J Pediatr 171, 1161–1166 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-012-1688-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-012-1688-6

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