Evaluating the Impact of Vitamin D3 on NF-κB and JAK/STAT Signaling Pathways in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

This study delved into the consequences of prolonged administration of vitamin D₃ on innate immune systems, particularly NF-κB and JAK/STAT, in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>. The outcomes indicated that vitamin D₃ treatment exhibited a notable capacity to improve the survival of adult flies with compromised immune functions, a condition induced by the loss of PGRP-LB, particularly when the flies were exposed to heat-killed <i>Escherichia coli</i>. The <i>PGRP-LB</i>^Δ mutant line that was treated with heat-killed <i>E. coli</i> experienced reduced survival. Treatment of heat-killed <i>E. coli</i>-treated <i>PGRP-LB</i>^Δ with vitamin D₃ resulted in improved survival, and this phenotypic feature might be due to the downregulation of gene expression in the NF-κB and JAK/STAT pathways. However, a higher concentration of vitamin D₃ was associated with decreased survival, potentially linked to intricate immunological responses. The research also underscored the influence of vitamin D₃ on the expression of antioxidant genes, <i>sod1</i> and <i>sod2</i>, indicating an augmented resistance to oxidative stress. Further, this study revealed the effect of vitamin D₃ on the reproductive status of the autoinflammatory model, showing an increase in pupae and adult flies with a treatment of 10 mM vitamin D₃, suggesting the potential benefits of vitamin D₃ on the reproductive profile. Overall, this study provides preliminary insights into the complex interactions between vitamin D₃, immune pathways, oxidative responses in the cell, and reproduction in <i>Drosophila</i>.

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