title: The Roles of Vitamin D and Its Analogs in Inflammatory Diseases.
abstract: The discovery of nonclassical actions, other than mineral homeostasis, of 1α,25- dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) has expanded its applications. Among these, its anti-inflammation activity has drawn more and more attention of researchers to investigate its role in regulating the progression of inflammatory diseases. The expression of many inflammation-related genes is regulated by 1,25D3 through vitamin D receptor (VDR) in a large variety of cells including immune cells such as, but not limited to, macrophages, dendritic cells, T helper cells, and B cells. Studies of 1,25D3 in these immune cells have shown both direct and indirect immunomodulatory activities affecting innate and adaptive immune responses. Moreover, 1,25D3 can also exert its anti-inflammation effects through regulating the biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory molecules in the prostaglandin pathway or through nuclear factor kappa light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) by affecting cytokine production and inflammatory responses. These actions of 1,25D3 may explain the associations between vitamin D levels and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, asthma, type 1 diabetes, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Although several analogs of 1,25D3 have shown potent immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory activity on immune cell cultures or in animal models, no vitamin D analog has been used in clinical research to treat inflammatory diseases. Here, we review the relationship between vitamin D analogs and inflammation based on observations of immune cells, prostaglandin and NFκB pathways, as well as common inflammatory diseases.
authors.forename: Zongtao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: 881 Madison Avenue, Room 561, Memphis, TN 38163, United States. wli@uthsc.edu.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D