vitamin D and LL-37 in neonatal sepsis

neonatal sepsis is considered as one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in neonates. This increased susceptibility to infection has been related to the immaturity of the neonatal immune system.Vitamin D in the form of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D is a potent immune system modulator. There is considerable scientific evidence that 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D has a variety of effects on immune system function, which may enhance innate immunity and inhibit the development of autoimmunity).LL-37 is one of several abundant antimicrobial peptides expressed by the keratinocytes and the epidermal glands of man .Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D many enhance theinnate immune response by induction of cathelicidin (LL-37), anendogenous antimicrobial peptide produced by macrophages andneutrophils. Thus, the relationship between vitamin D status and LL-37production may be of importance for host immunity.The present study aims at studying to evaluate the interaction of vitamin D and neonatal sepsis and the correlation between serum vitamin D and LL-37 level in neonatal sepsis.