title: Vitamin D insufficiency: implications for the immune system.
abstract: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by a loss of kidney function and dysregulation of vitamin D metabolism. Well known are the defects in final activation of vitamin D to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)], resulting in renal osteodystrophy. However, in recent years, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) has been identified as having effects far beyond calcium and bone metabolism. In this review, specific attention is given to the effects of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) on the immune system and the implications of vitamin D deficiency, a feature of many patients with CKD, on immune function.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49-ON1-bus 902, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Femke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baeke
authors.forename: Conny
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gysemans
authors.forename: Hannelie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Korf
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mathieu
mesh_terms: D002117:Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014815:Vitamins; D002117:Calcitriol