title: Dendritic cells modified by vitamin D: future immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells of the immune system, express nuclear receptors for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (VD3) and they are one of its main targets. In the presence of VD3, DCs differentiate into a phenotype that resembles semimature DCs, with reduced T cell costimulatory molecules and hampered IL-12 production. These VD3-modulated DCs induce T cell tolerance in vitro using multiple mechanisms such as rendering T cells anergic, dampening of Th1 responses, and recruiting and differentiating regulatory T cells. Due to their ability to specifically target pathological T cells, VD3-modulated DCs are safe and potentially more effective alternatives to currently available immunoregulatory therapies. While a number of considerations remain, including the establishment of a reliable quality control measure to ensure the safety and efficacy of VD3-DCs in vivo and the optimal frequency, dose, and route of DC administration to achieve therapeutic effects in humans, adoptive VD3-DC transfer represents one of the most promising approaches to future treatment of autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: DanDrit Biotech A/S, Symbion Science Park, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ayako Wakatsuki
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Mogens Helweg
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Claesson
authors.forename: Mai-Britt
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Zocca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D002117:Calcitriol