Innate and adaptive immune systems probably helped by vitamin D

Vitamin D for infections.

Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Obesity:doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000108,Published Ahead-of-Print

REVIEW: PDF Only

Korf, Hannelie; Decallonne, Brigitte; Mathieu, Chantal

Purpose of review: Current data clearly support an interaction of vitamin D with cells of the immune system apart from its regulatory role in calcium homeostasis. The discovery that immune cells express the vitamin D receptor and are capable of metabolizing circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D into its active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, has revolutionized the field and suggested a regulatory role on both the innate and adaptive immune systems.

Recent findings: Of particular interest with respect to infectious diseases, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D has been shown to trigger the production of antimicrobial peptides with a direct pathogen-killing capacity. Interestingly, pathogen-derived components influence the key players in the vitamin D metabolizing pathway, further supporting such an interaction.

Summary: Here, we review the potential mechanisms of vitamin D in promoting the innate immune response against infectious agents and discuss the possible implications for such a response in the prevention of or the intervention in various infectious diseases.

See also VitaminDWiki

• Search VitaminDWiki for ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES 200 items as of Aug 2016

• Antimicrobial peptides and proteins can be boosted by vitamin D, etc. – May 2014

• Reducing vitamin D reduces cathelicidin which reduces immunity

• Antimicrobial implications of vitamin D – Oct 2011 which has the following chart of possibilities