The molecular and clinical evidence of vitamin D signaling as a modulator of the immune system: Role in Behçet's disease

Abstract

Various tissues and cell types are the targets of vitamin D. However, the major targets of vitamin D in the immune system are monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), as well as B and T cells. Vitamin D plays an important role in the immune system modulation via regulating the expression of genes that generate pro-inflammatory mediators and inhibiting the proliferation of pro-inflammatory cells, both of which have been implicated in the pathophysiology of the inflammatory diseases. Recent studies have revealed the important relations between vitamin D and Behçet's disease (BD). Vitamin D function and its deficiency have been linked to a wide range of metabolic disorders including malignant, cardiovascular, infectious, neuromuscular, and autoimmune diseases. Here, we provide a brief analysis of the recent literature regarding immune-regulatory effects as well as clinical evidence of vitamin D influence on the molecular level in BD.

Keywords: Autoimmune diseases; Behçet’s disease; Immune system; Vitamin D.