title: Psoriasis, vitamin D and the importance of the cutaneous barrier's integrity: An update.
abstract: Psoriasis is a common, inflammatory, chronic, relapsing skin disease. Despite several hypotheses having been postulated to explain the pathogenesis of this disorder, nowadays it is considered as a T-cell-mediated disease; in this context an important role is played by vitamin D. The role of this micronutrient is important for many reasons: it is able to modulate the immune system; it is implicated in keratinocyte turnover; and it is involved in the integrity of the cutaneous barrier. In psoriasis, this molecule plays an important role due to its ability in the modulation of innate and adaptive immunity and by its antiproliferative and pro-differentiative effects on keratinocytes. Alteration of the metabolism of vitamin D may alter the cutaneous barrier integrity and favor an infective and inflammatory condition. The importance of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of psoriasis is not a mere mental exercise but may open further perspectives in the treatment of this disorder just preventing alterations of immune homeostasis, modulating the proliferation of keratinocyte, regulating the microbial flora and the response of the host to infective diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mattozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio Giovanni
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Richetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calvieri
mesh_terms: D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D054804:Cathelicidins
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D016207:Cytokines; D014807:Vitamin D; C506831:CYP27A1 protein, human; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase; D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase; C000600378:CYP27B1 protein, human; D054804:Cathelicidins
keywords: barrier organs; cutaneous integrity; psoriasis; skin barrier; vitamin D