Vitamin D3 modulates yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) immune function in vivo and in vitro and this involves the vitamin D3/VDR-type I interferon axis

Abstract Vitamin D3 (VD3) has been shown to regulate immune function in mammals. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin (1,25(OH)2D3) is the active form of vitamin D3, which is also known as calcitriol. The current study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the innate immune response of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) after in vivo and in vitro immune challenge. The in vivo results showed that increasing dietary vitamin D3 decreased mortality, enhanced the immune protective rate, and increased serum lysozyme, catalase and SOD activities in yellow catfish infected with Edwardsiella Ictaluri (p