Vitamin D and Immune Responses.
10.4078/jkra.2010.17.1.16
- Author:
Seong Wook KANG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. kangsw@cnuh.co.kr
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Vitamin D;
Autoimmunity;
Immunomodulation
- MeSH:
Autoimmune Diseases;
Autoimmunity;
Calcium;
Dendritic Cells;
Homeostasis;
Humans;
Immune System;
Immunomodulation;
Macrophages;
Physiological Processes;
T-Lymphocytes;
Vitamin D;
Vitamins
- From:The Journal of the Korean Rheumatism Association
2010;17(1):16-22
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
