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Review
. 2016 Jan;65(1):25-32.
doi: 10.1007/s00011-015-0884-z. Epub 2015 Oct 3.

Vitamin D3 modulates the innate immune response through regulation of the hCAP-18/LL-37 gene expression and cytokine production

Daniel Svensson  1 , Daniel Nebel  1 , Bengt-Olof Nilsson  2
Affiliations
Review

Vitamin D3 modulates the innate immune response through regulation of the hCAP-18/LL-37 gene expression and cytokine production

Daniel Svensson et al. Inflamm Res. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction: The steroid hormone metabolite of vitamin D3, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3), promotes osteogenic activity and regulates calcium and phosphate metabolism, which are actions regarded as classical vitamin D-regulated functions. Besides its role in these processes, 1,25D3 also seems implicated in the host defense against microbial/pro-inflammatory attacks. Low serum levels of vitamin D3 (vitamin D deficiency) are associated with osteoporosis and increased risk of fractures but also inflammatory diseases and their disease progression, presumably via mechanisms associated with 1,25D3-evoked modulation of the innate immune system. 1,25D3 has been reported to modulate many inflammatory responses, suggesting that it regulates multiple transcriptional targets within the inflammatory system.

Results: Experimental studies in various experimental systems show that 1,25D3 differentially regulates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines depending on cell type. Importantly, many reports show that 1,25D3 up-regulates expression of the human antimicrobial peptide hCAP-18/LL-37 gene. The hCAP-18/LL-37 gene seems indeed to be an important transcriptional target for 1,25D3. However, only limited evidence is presented showing that 1,25D3 consistently increases the amount of biologically active LL-37 peptide.

Conclusion: In the present review, we discuss 1,25D3-induced down-regulation of cytokine/chemokine production and stimulation of hCAP-18/LL-37 gene expression which represent two very important pathways for 1,25D3-evoked regulation of the innate immune response.

Keywords: Chemokine; Cytokine; Innate immune system; Vitamin D3; hCAP-18/LL-37.

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