title: Vitamin D and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Myth or Reality?
abstract: There is growing interest in the contribution of vitamin D deficiency to autoimmunity. Several studies have shown an association between low levels of vitamin D and autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroid diseases, celiac disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Vitamin D receptor ligands can mediate immunosuppressive effects. It has been suggested that low levels of this hormone contribute to the immune activation in lupus and other autoimmune diseases. This review updates and summarizes the literature on the association between vitamin D and SLE, and discusses the various correlations between vitamin D and SLE activity, clinical expressions, serology, and gene polymorphisms of vitamin D receptors.
authors.forename: Abdulla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watad
authors.forename: Shana G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amital
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
mesh_terms: D015551:Autoimmunity; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D008024:Ligands; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D062072:Patient Acuity; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; C579457:VDR protein, human; D014807:Vitamin D