title: Antibiotic-like actions of vitamin D.
abstract: Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone that has expanding importance for a healthy lifestyle and disease prevention. A multitude of studies have highlighted that vitamin D acts not only in bone and calcium homeostasis but is critically important for human immunity. The discovery that the storage form of vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D3) can be locally converted to the active form (1,25-hydroxyvitamin D3) in immune cells, epithelial cells and numerous other non-renal tissues highlights the importance of maintaining sufficient stores. When responding to a specific external stimulus, like bacterial invasion, intracrine synthesis of active vitamin D has the ability to regulate gene expression providing a specific response and directing cellular actions. These responses include the generation of antimicrobial peptides with production of these peptides dependent on vitamin D status. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased rate of infection. This paper highlights the antibiotic like actions of vitamin D and importance of vitamin D sufficiency.
authors: Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, USA.
authors: Franklin D
authors: FD
authors: Shuler
authors: Josh
authors: J
authors: Hendrix
authors: Sammy
authors: S
authors: Hodroge
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Short
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D054804:Cathelicidins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D023082:Defensins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D051194:Toll-Like Receptor 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054804:Cathelicidins; D023082:Defensins; D051194:Toll-Like Receptor 1; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D002117:Calcitriol; D002112:Calcifediol