Vitamin D is a seco-steroid involved in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and bone formation and mineralization, through binding to a specific nuclear receptor, vitamin D receptor (VDR). Besides its well-established functions on bone health, multiple lines of evidence have indicated the immunomodulatory roles of vitamin D. Vitamin D can affect both innate and adaptive immunity, and prevent autoimmune responses efficiently. Vitamin D regulates the immune responses by suppressing T cell proliferation and modulating macrophage functions. Epidemiological studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with multiple diseases such as rickets and cancer. Moreover, associations between vitamin D and autoimmune diseases have been confirmed in multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), etc. The present review mainly summarized the recent findings on the immunomodulatory role of vitamin D in various disorders, with special focus on its role in MS, an autoimmune disease of the nervous system.
维生素D 是一种类固醇衍生物, 其通过与特异性核受体结合, 在钙磷代谢、 骨质形成与矿化中发挥重要作用。 除此之外, 大量证据表明维生素D 具有免疫调节作用。 维生素D 能调节天然免疫与获得性免疫, 有效抑制自身免疫反应。 研究表明, 维生素D 是通过抑制T 细胞增殖和调节巨噬细胞功能来发挥免疫调节作用的。 流行病学调查发现, 维生素D缺乏与多种疾病相关。 维生素D缺乏与自身免疫性疾病的关系在多发性硬化和类风湿性关节炎中得到证实。 本文主要总结了维生素D在人类疾病中的免疫调节作用, 尤其强调其在神经系统自身免疫性疾病 — 多发性硬化中的重要作用。