SCIENTIFIC LETTER

Serum Cathelicidin Concentrations in Healthy Rural Indian School

Going Children

Neha Kajale

& Anuradha Khadilkar

& Rubina Mandlik

& Vaman Khadilkar

Received: 19 February 2020 /Accepted: 1 April 2020

Dr. K C Chaudhuri Foundation 2020

To the Editor: High levels of Cathelicidins are indicative

of response to infection which is mediated by Vitamin-D

concentrations. In a cascade response, Vitamin-D en-

hances immune response to produce Cathelicidins which

help to kill intracellular bacteria. Thus, levels of

Cathelicidins are enhanced in infectious diseases [1].

The aims of our pilot study were to assess serum

Cathelicidin concentrations among healthy rural Indian

children and to study association of Cathelicidin concen-

trations with age, gender, body composition (BC- Fat

percentage) and 25-(OH)D concentrations. Standard pro-

tocols were used for data collection including demogra-

phy, anthropometry and blood assessments [hemogram

and serum 25-(OH)D]. Ninety-four children (mean age

9.3±0.8y,range7.5to11y,46boys)wereassessed

for anthropometry and biochemical parameters. Height,

weight and BMI- Z scores were computed using reference

data. B oys and girls were similar in anthropometry

(p < 0.1) e xcept body fat % which was significantly

higher in girls (7.9 ± 7.1% vs. 11.9 ± 7.1% respectively,

p = 0.008). Biochemical paramete rs [hemoglobin, white

blood cell count (WBC) and serum 25-(OH)D] were also

similar among boys and girls except serum Cathelicidins.

Significantly higher concentrations of circulating

Cathelicidin were observed inboysascomparedtogirls

(p = 0.02). Mean Cathelicidin concentrations in boys were

99.8 ± 37.7 ng/ml (range 52.6 to 253.8 ng/ml) and in girls

were 83.8 ± 24.9 ng/ml (range 48.2 to 174.3 ng/ml). No

associations were observed between serum Cathelicidins

and 25-(OH)D concent ration, WBC counts or growth-

parameters (HAZ/ WAZ/ BAZ). Linear regression analy-

sis indicated that age and gender were positively associ-

ated with serum Cathelicidin concentrations (β = 0.127,

SE- 0.33, p = 0 .038 and β = 0.254, SE- 0.48, p =0.032

respectively), whereas 25-(OH)D levels and fat % showed

no association with serum Cathelicidin. Stukes et al. have

also reported similar observations among health y young

children (age 2–7 y), where they observed higher levels of

Cathelicidins with increasing age and no association of

Cathelicidin wi th Vitam in-D concentrations [2]. Positive

correlation of Cathelicidins with increasing age has also

been reported by other studies [2, 3]. On the contrary,

adults show decrease in immune function with increasing

age [ 1].BeingaSunrichcountry,majorityofourrural

children were Vitamin-D su fficient (>80%, >20 ng/ml),

[4], this may be one of the reasons why we found no

association between 25-(OH)D and Cathelicidins.

Further, as our population was healthy, WBC counts and

BMI were within the reference range for most children;

no association of these parameters was found with

Cathelicidins in our study participants. Similar observa-

tions have also been reported in adults [5].

Strength of our study is that, to the best of our knowl-

edge, ours is one of the first studies to assess and report

Cathelicidin in Indian children. Our study will form a

base for assessment of relationship between infections/

immunity and Cathelicidin. Limitation of our study is that

since we studied healthy children, and as our study was a

pilot, we have not been able to suggest a cut-off for serum

Cathelicidins. To conclude, Cathelicidin concentrations

increased with increasing age specially in boys and were

not associated with growth parameters or 25-OH(D) con-

centrations in healthy, Vitamin-D sufficient children.

Further studies are required to assess relationships be-

tween Vitamin-D, Cathelicidin and infect ions.

* Anuradha Khadilkar

anuradhavkhadilkar@gmail.com

Department of Growth and Pediatric Endocrinology, Hirabai Cowasji

Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Jehangir Hospital, 32 Sassoon

Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411 001, India

The Indian Journal of Pediatrics

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-020-03291-2

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of Interest None.

References

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5. Jeng L, Yamshchikov AV, Judd SE, et al. Alterations in vitamin D

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