An in silico model of the effects of vitamin D3 on mycobacterium infected macrophage

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a global health concern, causing over one million deaths a year. Alveolar macrophages, as the primary host cell of this intracellular bacterium, play an important role in the course of disease. Vitamin D₃ is known to have a potent effect on macrophage behavior during infection, modulating the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and immune effector molecules. In a vitamin D₃ deficient host, the immune systems response to infection is greatly impaired. We used a quantitative systems biology approach to model the intracellular effects of vitamin D₃ and compared our simulation output to our in vitro model of mycobacterium infection of macrophages in the presence and absence of Vitamin D₃. Our in silico model results agreed with the in vitro assay results of interleukin-10, an anti-inflammatory protein whose production is known to be influenced by vitamin D₃. This model will provide a platform for further investigation of the effects of vitamin D₃ deficiency on host immune response to infection.