Crosstalk between Vitamin D Metabolism, VDR Signalling, and Innate Immunity

Biomed Res Int. 2016:2016:1375858. doi: 10.1155/2016/1375858. Epub 2016 Jun 15.

Abstract

The primary function of vitamin D is to regulate calcium homeostasis, which is essential for bone formation and resorption. Although diet is a source of vitamin D, most foods are naturally lacking vitamin D. Vitamin D is also manufactured in the skin through a photolysis process, leading to a process called the "sunshine vitamin." The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol), is biosynthesised in the kidney through the hydroxylation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol by the CYP27B1 enzyme. It has been found that several immune cells express the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and CYP27B1; of the latter, synthesis is determined by several immune-specific signals. The realisation that vitamin D employs several molecular mechanisms to regulate innate immune responses is more recent. Furthermore, evidence collected from intervention studies indicates that vitamin D supplements may boost clinical responses to infections. This review considers the current knowledge of how immune signals regulate vitamin D metabolism and how innate immune system function is modulated by ligand-bound VDR.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase / immunology
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology*
  • Lignans
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • Vitamin D / immunology*

Substances

  • Lignans
  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • Vitamin D
  • 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase