title: Vitamin D, invariant natural killer T-cells and experimental autoimmune             disease.
abstract: Vitamin D is an important regulator of the immune system in general and multiple             sclerosis in particular. Experimentally (i), invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells             have been shown to be important suppressors of autoimmune diseases such as experimental             autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE; an animal model of multiple sclerosis). Conversely,             in experimental allergic asthma iNKT cells are required for disease induction and are             therefore pathogenic. The active form of vitamin D (calcitriol) suppresses EAE. The             development of EAE symptoms is accelerated in vitamin D deficiency. Interestingly             experimental asthma is less severe in vitamin D deficiency although there is no effect             of calcitriol on disease severity. The data suggest that an important target of vitamin             D in EAE and asthma are the iNKT cells. Vitamin D and/or vitamin D receptor deficiency             results in the impaired development of iNKT cells. Vitamin D is critical very early             during development of the immune system. Low levels of vitamin D in utero resulted in             significantly reduced numbers of iNKT cells that failed to recover when calcitriol was             used to supplement neonatal or adult mice. The data suggest that one of the consequences             of early vitamin D deficiency is a reduction in the numbers of iNKT cells that develop.             The iNKT cells are required for the beneficial effects of calcitriol in EAE. The             important role of vitamin D on iNKT cells could impact the development of human             immune-mediated diseases including multiple sclerosis and asthma.
authors: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Center for Molecular Immunology and Infectious Disease, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. mxc69@psu.edu
authors: Margherita T
authors: MT
authors: Cantorna
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Zhao
authors: Linlin
authors: L
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D; D002117:Calcitriol