title: Vitamin D and autoimmune diabetes.
abstract: The biologically active form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), is a potent modulator of the immune system as well as a regulator of bone and mineral metabolism. Vitamin D-deficiency in infancy and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms may be risk factors for insulin-dependent Diabetes mellitus (IDDM). 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and its analogs significantly repress the development of insulitis and diabetes in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, a model of human IDDM. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) may modulate IDDM disease pathogenesis by repression of type I cytokines, inhibition of dendritic cell maturation, and upregulation of regulatory T cells. The function of vitamin D as a genetic and environmental determining factor for IDDM, the protective role of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and its analogs in a mouse model of IDDM, and the possible mechanisms by which this protection occurs will be reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Julia B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Zella
authors.forename: Hector F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: DeLuca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D