Pleiotropic effects of vitamin D in inflammatory-based diseases

Abstract

Numerous pleiotropic effects have been reported for vitamin D (vit D) since its discovery a centuryago. Today it is well known that in addition to its pivotal role in calcium homeostasis and bonemetabolism, vit D has antibacterial, anti-proliferative, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatoryactions, among other beneficial properties. In the context of inflammatory-based diseases, vit Dand its receptor VDR might fulfil their roles as gene regulators through direct gene regulation andepigenetic mechanisms.