The Ifng Gene Is Essential for Vdr Gene Expression and Vitamin D3-Mediated Reduction of the Pathogenic T Cell Burden in the Central Nervous System in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, a Multiple Sclerosis Model

Compelling evidence suggests that vitamin D-3 insufficiency may contribute causally to multiple sclerosis (MS) risk. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) research firmly supports this hypothesis. Vitamin D-3 supports 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 (1,25-[OH](2)D-3) synthesis in the CNS, initiating biological processes that reduce pathogenic CD4(+) T cell longevity. MS is prevalent in Sardinia despite high ambient UV irradiation, challenging the vitamin D-MS hypothesis. Sardinian MS patients frequently carry a low Ifng expresser allele, suggesting that inadequate IFN-gamma may undermine vitamin D-3-mediated inhibition of demyelinating disease. Testing this hypothesis, we found vitamin D3 failed to inhibit EAE in female Ifng knockout (GKO) mice, unlike wild-type mice. The two strains did not differ in Cyp27b1 and Cyp24a1 gene expression, implying equivalent vitamin D-3 metabolism in the CNS. The 1,25-(OH)(2)D-3 inhibited EAE in both strains, but 2-fold more 1,25-(OH)(2)D-3 was needed in GKO mice, causing hypercalcemic toxicity. Unexpectedly, GKO mice had very low Vdr gene expression in the CNS. Injecting IFN-g intracranially into adult mice did not increase Vdr gene expression. Correlating with low Vdr expression, GKO mice had more numerous pathogenic Th1 and Th17 cells in the CNS, and 1,25-(OH)(2)D-3 reduced these cells in GKO and wild-type mice without altering Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells. Thus, the Ifng gene was needed for CNS Vdr gene expression and vitamin D-3-dependent mechanisms that inhibit EAE. Individuals with inadequate Ifng expression may have increased MS risk despite high ambient UV irradiation because of low Vdr gene expression and a high encephalitogenic T cell burden in the CNS. The Journal of Immunology, 2012, 189: 3188-3197.