title: Vitamin D influences asthmatic pathology through its action on diverse immunological pathways.
abstract: The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency has increased markedly in recent decades to current epidemic levels (Hyppönen E, et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:860-868). In parallel, there has been an increase in the incidence of a range of immune-mediated conditions ranging from cancer to autoimmune and respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma (Holick MF. N Engl J Med 2007;357:266-281; Finklea et al. Adv Nutr 2011;2:244-253). There is also an association with increased respiratory infections, which are the most common cause of asthma exacerbations (Finklea et al. Adv Nutr 2011;2:244-253). Together, this has resulted in considerable interest in the therapeutic potential of vitamin D to prevent and improve treatment of asthma and other respiratory diseases. To this end, data from clinical trials involving supplementation with active vitamin D, or more commonly a precursor, are starting to emerge. This review considers mechanisms by which vitamin D may act on the immune system to dampen inappropriate inflammatory responses in the airway while also promoting tolerance and antimicrobial defense mechanisms that collectively maintain respiratory health.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms in Asthma, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Pfeffer
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hornsby
authors.forename: Emma S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Yin-Huai
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hawrylowicz
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: asthma; glucocorticoids; immune regulation; vitamin D