title: Vitamin D receptor agonists as anti-inflammatory agents.
abstract: 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-[OH]2D3), the biologically active form of vitamin D, is a secosteroid hormone that is essential for bone and mineral homeostasis. In addition, this hormone regulates the growth and differentiation of many cell types and has pronounced immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Current therapeutic indications include osteoporosis, secondary hyperparathyroidism and psoriasis, but the anti-proliferative, prodifferentiative, antibacterial, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin D receptor agonists could be exploited in a variety of additional clinical conditions. In particular, the pleiotropic anti-inflammatory effects induced by vitamin D receptor agonists could turn out to be beneficial in different pathologies mediated by chronic inflammatory responses.
authors.affiliation: BioXell, Via Olgettina 58, I-20132 Milano, Italy. luciano.adorini@bioxell.com
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adorini
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amuchastegui
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corsiero
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laverny
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Le Meur
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Penna