title: The endocrine vitamin D system in the gut.
abstract: The active vitamin D metabolite 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3(1,25(OH)2D3) has important regulatory actions in the gut through endocrine and probably also intracrine, autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. By activating the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which is expressed at a high level in the small intestine and colon, 1,25(OH)2D3regulates numerous genes that control gut physiology and homeostasis. 1,25(OH)2D3is a major responsible for epithelial barrier function and calcium and phosphate absorption, and the host's defense against pathogens and the inflammatory response by several types of secretory and immune cells. Moreover, recent data suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3has a regulatory effect on the gut microbiota and stromal fibroblasts. Many studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) and to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, and the possible use of VDR agonists to prevent or treat these diseases is receiving increasing interest.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbáchano
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Asunción
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Barral
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrer-Mayorga
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costales-Carrera
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Larriba
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28029 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: amunoz@iib.uam.es.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muñoz
mesh_terms: D065966:Absorption, Physicochemical; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000378:metabolism*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; C579457:VDR protein, human; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Colorectal cancer; Gut homeostasis; Gut microbiota; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Vitamin D