REVIEW - The complex role of vitamin D in autoimmune diseases

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Scand J Immunol. 2008 Sep;68(3):261-9. Epub 2008 May 29.

The complex role of vitamin D in autoimmune diseases.

Szodoray P, Nakken B, Gaal J, Jonsson R, Szegedi A, Zold E, Szegedi G,

Brun JG, Gesztelyi R, Zeher M, Bodolay E.

Division of Clinical Immunology, 3rd Department of Medicine, Medical

and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.

Vitamin D, besides having well-known control functions of calcium and

phosphorus metabolism, bone formation and mineralization, also has a

role in the maintenance of immune-homeostasis. The immune-regulatory

role of vitamin D affects both the innate and adaptive immune system

contributing to the immune-tolerance of self-structures. Impaired

vitamin D supply/regulation, amongst other factors, leads to the

development of autoimmune processes in animal models of various

autoimmune diseases. The administration of vitamin D in these animals

leads to improvement of immune-mediated symptoms. Moreover, in human

autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid

arthritis the pathogenic role of vitamin D has been described. The

review aims at describing the complex immune-regulatory role of

vitamin D from the cellular level through autoimmune animal models and

depicting the known contribution of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of

human autoimmune diseases.

PMID: 18510590

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18510590

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