Immunity increased by Vitamin D via cells and genes (HIV etc.) – March 2018

Vitamin D in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: Influence on Immunity and Disease.

Front Immunol. 2018 Mar 12;9:458. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00458. eCollection 2018.
Jiménez-Sousa MÁ1, Martínez I1, Medrano LM1, Fernández-Rodríguez A1, Resino S1.
Unidad de Infección Viral e Inmunidad, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain.

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How Vitamin D helps the immune system (both innate and adaptive)

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Another indication that the immune system benefits of Vitamin D are not associated with the Kidney

Note: This diagram fails to show the autocrine/paracrine activation of Vitamin D outside of the Liver

 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection typically have hypovitaminosis D, which is linked to a large number of pathologies, including immune disorders and infectious diseases. Vitamin D (VitD) is a key regulator of host defense against infections by activating genes and pathways that enhance innate and adaptive immunity. VitD mediates its biological effects by binding to the Vitamin D receptor (VDR), and activating and regulating multiple cellular pathways. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes from those pathways have been associated with protection from HIV-1 infection. High levels of VitD and VDR expression are also associated with natural resistance to HIV-1 infection. Conversely, VitD deficiency is linked to more inflammation and immune activation, low peripheral blood CD4+ T-cells, faster progression of HIV disease, and shorter survival time in HIV-infected patients.
VitD supplementation and restoration to normal values in HIV-infected patients may improve immunologic recovery during combination antiretroviral therapy, reduce levels of inflammation and immune activation, and increase immunity against pathogens. Additionally, VitD may protect against the development of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome events, pulmonary tuberculosis, and mortality among HIV-infected patients. In summary, this review suggests that VitD deficiency may contribute to the pathogenesis of HIV infection. Also, VitD supplementation seems to reverse some alterations of the immune system, supporting the use of VitD supplementation as prophylaxis, especially in individuals with more severe VitD deficiency.

PMID: 29593721 PMCID: PMC5857570 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00458