The current state of play of rodent models to study the role of vitamin D in UV-induced immunomodulation.
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from sunlight is immunomodulatory and the main source of vitamin D for humans. Vitamin D can also regulate adaptive immunity, through mechanisms that involve the induction or activation of regulatory T cells. Similar mechanisms have also been proposed for the induction of regulatory T cells after skin exposure to UVR. Here we discuss the converging and diverging immunoregulatory pathways of UVR and vitamin D, including the molecular pathways for regulatory T cell induction, non-genomic pathways regulated by vitamin D, antimicrobial peptides, skin integrity and potential interactions between vitamin D and other UVR-induced mediators. We then discuss possible in vivo approaches that could be used to demonstrate a direct (or otherwise) role for vitamin D in mediating the immunosuppressive effects of UVR such as the use of dietary vitamin D restriction to induce vitamin D deficiency, gene knockout mice or drugs to block enzymes of vitamin D metabolism. We end with discussion of the epigenetic effects of vitamin D and UVR for immunosuppression.
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. shelleyg@ichr.uwa.edu.au
Shelley
S
Gorman
Prue H
PH
Hart
D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D014807:Vitamin D