The active form of vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ; calcitriol], plays a key role in mineral and bone homeostasis, and exerts potent anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities [1]. It is thus a potential pharmacological agent to treat various diseases, including autoimmune disorders, infections and cancer [1]. However, the 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 doses required to elicit s...

The breakdown of the intestinal barrier is a common manifestation of many diseases. Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D and its receptor VDR may regulate intestinal barrier function. Claudin-2 is a tight junction protein that mediates paracellular water transport in intestinal epithelia, rendering them "leaky". Using whole body VDR(-/-) mice, intestinal epithelial VDR conditional knockout (...

Prostate cancer is the second common cancer in men worldwide. The prevention of prostate cancer remains a challenge to researchers and clinicians. Here, we review the relationship of vitamin D and sunlight to prostate cancer risk. Ultraviolet radiation of the sunlight is the main stimulator for vitamin D production in humans. Vitamin D's antiprostate cancer activities may be involved in the act...

Among the factors postulated to play a role in MS susceptibility, the role of vitamin D is outstanding. Since the function of vitamin D receptor (VDR) represents the effect of vitamin D on the body and genetic variations in VDR gene may affect its function, we aim to highlight the association of two VDR gene polymorphisms with MS susceptibility. In current study, we recruited 113 MS patients an...

In recent years, vitamin D has been received increased attention due to the resurgence of vitamin D deficiency and rickets in developed countries and the identification of extraskeletal effects of vitamin D, suggesting unexpected benefits of vitamin D in health and disease, beyond bone health. The possibility of extraskeletal effects of vitamin D was first noted with the discovery of the vitami...

We thankWeir and Borek (1) for the thorough reading of our article (2). Weir and Borek mention the limitations of the use of a single vitamin D measurement despite the potential individual variations in vitamin D status. This is a valid point because a single vitamin D measurement at baseline may lose predictive power over time. However, the estimates were very similar, when we only included a ...

Already in the eighties it was shown that the active form of vitamin D 3 , 1,25-dihydroxyvi-tamin D 3 [1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ], can inhibit the proliferation of melanoma cells 1 and stimulate the differentiation of myeloid leukemia cells. 2 The almost universal presence of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the presence of 1α-hydroxylase (CyP27B1) activity in non-classical tissues together with the anti...

Already in the eighties it was shown that the active form of vitamin D 3 , 1,25-dihydroxyvi-tamin D 3 [1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ], can inhibit the proliferation of melanoma cells 1 and stimulate the differentiation of myeloid leukemia cells. 2 The almost universal presence of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the presence of 1α-hydroxylase (CyP27B1) activity in non-classical tissues together with the anti...

BACKGROUND Vitamin D can translocate a vitamin D receptor (VDR) from the nucleus to the cell membranes. The meaning of this translocation is not elucidated in terms of a role in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) till now. VDR deficient mice are prone to develop emphysema, suggesting that abnormal function of VDR might influence a generation of COPD. The blood levels o...

This study aims to evaluate the vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression and intracellular amounts of VDRs in CD4+ CD8+ lymphocytes renal transplant (RT) recipients with chronic allograft dysfunction (CAD). A total 43 patients (Group 1:RT patients=29 patients, 15 CAD proven by biopsy 1a), 14 stable function 1b), Group 2:Control group=14 healthy individuals) have been enrolled this study. 25-hydroxyc...