title: Modulatory effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on eye disorders: A critical review.
abstract: Many studies have shown that the presence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the eye is able to modulate inflammatory responses. In fact, it has been demonstrated that topical administration of vitamin D3 inhibits Langerhans cells migration from the central cornea, corneal neovascularization, and production of cytokines (i.e., interleukin-1-6-8) in experimental animals. Moreover, both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that vitamin D is a potent inhibitor of retinal neovascularization. It has been shown that calcitriol, the biologically active form of vitamin D, inhibits angiogenesis both in cultured endothelial cells and in retinas from guinea pigs with retinoblastoma or oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy. In addition, it seems that this compound is able to prevent the progression from early to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and, at the same time, to down-regulate the characteristic inflammatory cascade at the retinal pigment epithelium-choroid interface due to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory capabilities. Furthermore, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its analogue, 2-methylene-19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, are able to modulate intraocular pressure (IOP) through gene expression. Several studies have suggested a role in glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy therapies for vitamin D3. In conclusion, this review summarizes our current knowledge on the potential use of vitamin D3 in the protection and treatment of ocular diseases in ophthalmology.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sense Organs , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nebbioso
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sense Organs , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buomprisco
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascarella
authors.affiliation: c Department of Cardiologic, Respiratory, Nephrologic, Anesthesiologic and Geriatric Sciences , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pescosolido
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: C468519:2-methylene-1,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D3; D016207:Cytokines; D002117:Calcitriol
keywords: 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; Anti-angiogenesis; cytokines; diabetic retinopathy; eye diseases; glaucoma