(25-09-14) Vitamin D and the immune system: new perspectives on an old theme

Martin Hewison, PhD
Professor in Residence, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Molecular Biology Institute, David
Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 615 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095,
USA
Synopsis
Interaction with the immune system is one of the most well-established non-classical effects of
vitamin D. For many years this was considered to be a manifestation of granulomatous diseases such
sarcoidosis, where synthesis of active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) is known to be
dysregulated. However, recent reports have supported a role for 1,25(OH)2D3 in mediating normal
function of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Crucially, these effects appear to be
mediated via localized autocrine or paracrine synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3 from precursor 25-
hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3), the main circulating metabolite of vitamin D. As such, the ability of
vitamin D to influence normal human immunity will be highly dependent on the vitamin D status of
individuals, and may lead to aberrant response to infection or autoimmunity in those who are vitamin
D-insufficient. The potential health significance of this has been underlined by increasing awareness
of impaired vitamin D status in populations across the globe. The following review article will
describe in more detail some of the recent developments with respect to vitamin D and the immune
system, together with possible clinical implications.


Source: Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2010 June ; 39(2): 365–379. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2010.02.010.

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