J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2010 Mar;17(1):16-22. 10.4078/jkra.2010.17.1.16.

Vitamin D and Immune Responses

• Kang SW

• KMID: 2201988
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jkra.2010.17.1.16

Abstract

Vitamins and their metabolites are essential for many physiological processes including immune response. In addition to regulating calcium homeostasis, vitamin D exerts various effects on cells of the immune system, such as macrophages, dendritic cells as well as, B and T cells. Low vitamin D levels are found in patients with autoimmune diseases, which suggest a potential role of vitamin D in autoimmunity. In this review, we discuss the roles of vitamin D in modulating immune responses and the clinical potential of vitamin D metabolites for preventing and treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Keyword

Vitamin D; Autoimmunity; Immunomodulation

MeSH Terms

Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmunity
Calcium
Dendritic Cells
Homeostasis
Humans
Immune System
Immunomodulation
Macrophages
Physiological Processes
T-Lymphocytes
Vitamin D
Vitamins
Calcium
Vitamin D
Vitamins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Reciprocal regulation of FOXP3+ T cells and Th17 cells by vitamin D. 1,25(OH)2D3 promotes the development of FOXP3+ CD4 T lymphocytes with regulatory function which also suppresses IL-17 producing CD4 helper T (Th17) cells differentiation.

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