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Immunoregulatory mechanisms of vitamin D relevant to respiratory health and asthma
Author(s) -
Mann Elizabeth H.,
Chambers Emma S.,
Pfeffer Paul E.,
Hawrylowicz Catherine M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/nyas.12410
Subject(s) - asthma , vitamin d and neurology , immunology , immune system , eosinophilia , glucocorticoid , medicine , immunoglobulin e , vitamin d deficiency , vitamin , pathogenesis , antibody
Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among people with various immune‐mediated conditions, including autoimmune diseases and asthma. Serum 25(OH)D levels inversely correlate with asthma severity, glucocorticoid responsiveness/dosage, and markers of pathogenesis, such as airway remodeling, IgE, and eosinophilia. Trials involving supplementation with active vitamin D or a precursor are beginning to emerge with variable results that, in part, reflect differences in study design. This review looks at the mechanisms by which vitamin D may protect against asthma, including increasing glucocorticoid responsiveness, skewing immune cells towards a regulatory phenotype, reducing the incidence of infections, airway remodeling, eosinophilia, and lowering the levels of IgE. Also discussed is the therapeutic potential for vitamin D, which is likely to be applicable to immune‐mediated conditions beyond simply asthma.