The complex role of vitamin D in autoimmune diseases.
Vitamin D, besides having well-known control functions of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, bone formation and mineralization, also has a role in the maintenance of immune-homeostasis. The immune-regulatory role of vitamin D affects both the innate and adaptive immune system contributing to the immune-tolerance of self-structures. Impaired vitamin D supply/regulation, amongst other factors, leads to the development of autoimmune processes in animal models of various autoimmune diseases. The administration of vitamin D in these animals leads to improvement of immune-mediated symptoms. Moreover, in human autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis the pathogenic role of vitamin D has been described. The review aims at describing the complex immune-regulatory role of vitamin D from the cellular level through autoimmune animal models and depicting the known contribution of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of human autoimmune diseases.
Division of Clinical Immunology, 3rd Department of Medicine, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary. szodoray@gmail.com
P
P
Szodoray
B
B
Nakken
J
J
Gaal
R
R
Jonsson
A
A
Szegedi
E
E
Zold
G
G
Szegedi
J G
JG
Brun
R
R
Gesztelyi
M
M
Zeher
E
E
Bodolay
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D051379:Mice; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000276:immunology*
D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D