Biomaterial Database

Vitamin D and the immune system. 2010

Nicola Maruotti, and Francesco Paolo Cantatore

Rheumatology Clinic Mario Carrozzo, D'Avanzo Hospital, Viale degli Aviatori 1, I-71100 Foggia, Italy.

Evidence of the role of vitamin D in the regulation of T and B cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and keratinocytes continues to accumulate and provides a link between vitamin D and many autoimmune diseases, including Crohn's disease, juvenile diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis. Considering the influence of vitamin D on the immune system, it may have potential as a treatment for immune-mediated diseases, even if additional research is required to better quantify dosage. But the biggest obstacle to its clinical use is its potent hypercalcemic effect. The calcium status of the host may influence the effect of vitamin D on immunity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007107	Immune System	The body's defense mechanism against foreign organisms or substances and deviant native cells. It includes the humoral immune response and the cell-mediated response and consists of a complex of interrelated cellular, molecular, and genetic components.	Immune Systems,System, Immune,Systems, Immune
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001327	Autoimmune Diseases	Disorders that are characterized by the production of antibodies that react with host tissues or immune effector cells that are autoreactive to endogenous peptides.	Autoimmune Disease,Disease, Autoimmune,Diseases, Autoimmune
D013250	Steroid Hydroxylases	Cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases (MIXED FUNCTION OXYGENASES) that are important in steroid biosynthesis and metabolism.	Steroid Hydroxylase,Steroid Monooxygenases,Hydroxylase, Steroid,Hydroxylases, Steroid,Monooxygenases, Steroid
D014807	Vitamin D	A vitamin that includes both CHOLECALCIFEROLS and ERGOCALCIFEROLS, which have the common effect of preventing or curing RICKETS in animals. It can also be viewed as a hormone since it can be formed in SKIN by action of ULTRAVIOLET RAYS upon the precursors, 7-dehydrocholesterol and ERGOSTEROL, and acts on VITAMIN D RECEPTORS to regulate CALCIUM in opposition to PARATHYROID HORMONE.
D015551	Autoimmunity	Process whereby the immune system reacts against the body's own tissues. Autoimmunity may produce or be caused by AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES.	Autoimmune Response,Autoimmune Responses,Autoimmunities