Abstract
The recent discovery that vitamin D regulates expression of the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide gene has generated renewed interest in using vitamin D to fight infectious diseases. This review describes the historical use of vitamin D or its sources to treat infections, the mechanism of action through which vitamin D mediates its “antibiotic” effects, findings from epidemiological studies associating vitamin D deficiency with increased susceptibility to infection and clinical trials with vitamin D supplementation to treat or prevent infections. Furthermore studies examining an association between vitamin D levels and cathelicidin expression are discussed. The role of cathelcidin throughout the course of infection from the initial encounter of the pathogen to the resolution of tissue damage and inflammation indicates that individuals need to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D for an optimal immune response. In addition, for treating infections, carefully designed randomized, clinical trials that are appropriately powered to detect modest effects, target populations that are severely deficient in vitamin D,and optimized dose, dosing frequency and safety are needed.
Keywords: Antimicrobial peptide, cathelicidin, infection, innate immunity, vitamin D, vitamin D receptor.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets
Title:The Antibiotic Effects of Vitamin D
Volume: 14 Issue: 4
Author(s): Chunxiao Guo and Adrian F. Gombart
Affiliation:
Keywords: Antimicrobial peptide, cathelicidin, infection, innate immunity, vitamin D, vitamin D receptor.
Abstract: The recent discovery that vitamin D regulates expression of the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide gene has generated renewed interest in using vitamin D to fight infectious diseases. This review describes the historical use of vitamin D or its sources to treat infections, the mechanism of action through which vitamin D mediates its “antibiotic” effects, findings from epidemiological studies associating vitamin D deficiency with increased susceptibility to infection and clinical trials with vitamin D supplementation to treat or prevent infections. Furthermore studies examining an association between vitamin D levels and cathelicidin expression are discussed. The role of cathelcidin throughout the course of infection from the initial encounter of the pathogen to the resolution of tissue damage and inflammation indicates that individuals need to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D for an optimal immune response. In addition, for treating infections, carefully designed randomized, clinical trials that are appropriately powered to detect modest effects, target populations that are severely deficient in vitamin D,and optimized dose, dosing frequency and safety are needed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Guo Chunxiao and Gombart F. Adrian, The Antibiotic Effects of Vitamin D, Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets 2014; 14 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871530314666140709085159
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871530314666140709085159 |
Print ISSN 1871-5303 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2212-3873 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Radiolabelling of Ascorbic Acid: A New Clue to Clarify its Action as an Anticancer Agent?
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Signal Transduction Therapy with Rationally Designed Kinase Inhibitors
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Nanocarriers Conjugated with Cell Penetrating Peptides: New Trojan Horses by Modern Ulysses
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Plasticity of T Cell Differentiation and Cytokine Signature: A Double-Edged Sword for Immune Responses
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Discontinued) Sugar-Borate Esters – Potential Chemical Agents in Prostate Cancer Chemoprevention
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Histone Modification in Osteogenic Differentiation of Skeletal Stem Cells
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Adnexal Masses in Pregnancy: A Review
Current Women`s Health Reviews The Contribution of Extracellular Nef to HIV-Induced Pathogenesis
Current Drug Targets Polymorphisms in Methotrexate Pathways: What Is Clinically Relevant, What Is Not, and What Is Promising
Current Drug Metabolism Plasticity and Maintenance of Hematopoietic Stem Cells During Development
Recent Patents on Biotechnology FADS1 is a Prognostic Biomarker in Bladder Cancer: A Study Based on TCGA Data
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Curcumin as an Anti-Cancer Agent: Review of the Gap Between Basic and Clinical Applications
Current Medicinal Chemistry Role of Dietary Xenobiotics-Gene Interactions in Carcinogenesis: Protective Effects of Nutritional Factors
Current Nutrition & Food Science Autophagy as a Molecular Target of Flavonoids Underlying their Protective Effects in Human Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry Targeting Trail Towards the Clinic
Current Drug Targets Effects of Surface Morphology Variation on the Degradation Rate of Poly(L-Lactic Acid) Membranes and the Behavior of Attached Cells
Micro and Nanosystems Inhibition of Lysozyme by Taurine Dibromamine
Protein & Peptide Letters A Novel Cancer Targeting Approach Based on Estrone Anchored Stealth Liposome for Site-Specific Breast Cancer Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Advances in Nano Drugs for Cancer Chemotherapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Emergence of Ad-Mediated Combination Therapy Against Cancer: What to Expect?
Current Cancer Drug Targets