title: Vitamin D and immune function.
abstract: Vitamin D metabolizing enzymes and vitamin D receptors are present in many cell types including various immune cells such as antigen-presenting-cells, T cells, B cells and monocytes. In vitro data show that, in addition to modulating innate immune cells, vitamin D also promotes a more tolerogenic immunological status. In vivo data from animals and from human vitamin D supplementation studies have shown beneficial effects of vitamin D on immune function, in particular in the context of autoimmunity. In this review, currently available data are summarized to give an overview of the effects of vitamin D on the immune system in general and on the regulation of inflammatory responses, as well as regulatory mechanisms connected to autoimmune diseases particularly in type 1 diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, A 8036 Graz, Austria. barbara.prietl@medunigraz.at
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prietl
authors.forename: Gerlies
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Treiber
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Pieber
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amrein
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D