title: Vitamin D or hormone D deficiency in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including undifferentiated connective tissue disease.
abstract: Epidemiological evidence indicates a significant association between vitamin D deficiency and an increased incidence of autoimmune diseases. The presence of vitamin D receptors in the cells of the immune system and the fact that several of these cells produce the vitamin D hormone suggested that vitamin D could have immunoregulatory properties, and now potent immuno-modulatory activities on dendritic cells, Th1 and Th17 cells, as well as B cells have been confirmed. Patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease also show vitamin D deficiency and, interestingly, patients who progress into connective tissue diseases have lower vitamin D levels than those who remain in the undifferentiated connective tissue disease stage.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cutolo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology