title: UVB immunosuppression: vitamin D or not vitamin D? That is the question.
abstract: UVB radiation stimulates the production of vitamin D and also has immunosuppressive effects. Vitamin D is also known to alter immunological function. Thus, a relevant question is whether vitamin D is a mediator of the immunological effects of UVB. In this issue, Schwarz et al. have addressed this issue and have concluded that although vitamin D has similar effects to UVB on the immune system, UVB-induced immunosuppression can be achieved without the requirement for vitamin D action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, The UAB Skin Diseases Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0009, USA.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Elmets
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000276:immunology*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014807:Vitamin D; C097949:1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D