Vitamin D and its role in immunology: multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occur because of an inappropriate immune-mediated attack against self-tissue. Analyses of genetically identical twins shows that besides genetics there are important environmental factors that contribute to MS and IBD development. Vitamin D availability due to sunshine exposure or diet may play a role in the development of MS and IBD. Compelling data in mice show that vitamin D and signaling through the vitamin D receptor dictate the outcome of experimental MS and IBD. Furthermore, the evidence points to the direct and indirect regulation of T cell development and function by vitamin D. In the absence of vitamin D and signals delivered through the vitamin D receptor, auto reactive T cells develop and in the presence of active vitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D(3) ) and a functional vitamin D receptor the balance in the T cell response is restored and autoimmunity avoided.
Cantorna
Margherita T
MT
Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Center for Molecular Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Pennsylvania State University, 115 Henning Bldg., University Park, PA 16802, USA. mxc69@psu.edu
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000276:immunology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D