cholecalciferol and Granuloma

Sarcoid epithelioid cells are believed to be a variant of tissue macrophages, which are derived from circulating monocytes in blood. Formation of monocytes and macrophages are controlled by hematopoietic growth factors, i.e.; colony-stimulating factors in the bone marrow. In the presence of colony-stimulating factors and/or vitamin D3, blood monocytes can proliferate and differentiate into epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells. Recent observations that sarcoid granulomas themselves produce colony-stimulating factors and vitamin D3 suggest vitamin D3 and colony-stimulating factors produced by sarcoid granulomas stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of circulating monocytes into macrophage-epithelioid cells, which form new sarcoid granulomas.

Topics: Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Cholecalciferol; Colony-Stimulating Factors; Epithelioid Cells; Granuloma; Humans; Monocytes; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; Sarcoidosis

We studied effects of the hormonal form of vitamin D3 on the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity of hepatic granulomas in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. During 7 to 11 weeks after infection, mice were given orally 0.1 or 1.0 microgram/kg of 1 alpha (OH)D3 or only medium solution every other day. Granulomatous livers were removed at 7, 9 and 11 weeks after infection, and ACE activity was measured in the granulomas isolated from each liver tissue using a fluorometric method. Oral administration of 0.1 or 1.0 microgram/kg/2 days of 1 alpha (OH)D3 for 4 weeks significantly enhanced ACE activity in the granuloma tissue. Since the DNA content relative to a unit weight of protein in the granulomas did not change with the 1 alpha (OH)D3 treatment, it is suggested that the elevated tissue ACE activity is due to an actual increase of the enzyme activity in each granuloma cell. The present observation may have relevance to sarcoid granulomas characterized by an increased tissue ACE activity, since macrophages from patients with sarcoidosis synthesize a biologically active hormonal form of vitamin D3. Namely hormonal form of vitamin D3 locally produced by macrophages is involved not only in systemic Ca++ metabolism but also in the stimulation of macrophages themselves to produce ACE in the granulomas.

Topics: Animals; Cholecalciferol; Female; Granuloma; Liver; Liver Diseases; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; Sarcoidosis; Schistosomiasis mansoni

Topics: Calcitriol; Calcium; Cholecalciferol; Dihydroxycholecalciferols; Granuloma; Humans; Hypercalcemia

In rats daily treated with vitamin D3 (5 micrograms/g of body weight/d for 5 d), the subcutaneous charrageenan granuloma shows reduced cellularity, mesenchimal cells degenerative process, increased mechanical fragility of lysosomes, oedema and modified fibrillogenesis of stroma. These effects are related to vitamin D3 action on cytomembranes.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Carrageenan; Cholecalciferol; DNA; Female; Glucuronidase; Granuloma; Liver; Lysosomes; Male; Proteins; Rats

Topics: Calcium; Cholecalciferol; Cortisone; Desoxycorticosterone Acetate; Digitoxin; Dihydrotachysterol; Electrolytes; Granuloma; Hormones; Potassium; Prednisone; Sodium; Steroids