Authors: Zittermann, Armin; Tenderich, Gero; Koerfer, Reiner

Source: Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets, Volume 8, Number 2, June 2009 , pp. 161-168(8)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Tolerance induction is a fascinating option to prevent allergic diseases or allograft rejection. Calcitriol is the hormonal form of vitamin D and is produced by two hydroxylation steps: a hepatic 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D and a subsequent renal 1α-hydroxylation. Calcitriol has important immunomodulatory properties. Calcitriol can prevent those inflammatory processes which are responsible for allograft rejection, whereas its effects on immunological responses related to allergic reactions are more complex and not fully elucidated. This article summarizes present knowledge on vitamin D and the adaptive immune system. Experimental and clinical studies support the assumption that calcitriol can decrease the risk of allograft rejection. Prospective randomized clinical trials are however needed to clarify whether administration of calcitriol, some of its analogues, or simple vitamin D supplementation is able to prevent rejection in solid organ transplanted patients. With respect to allergic reactions, human data are inconsistent at present. Some argue that vitamin D deficiency may cause allergic reactions whereas others argue that vitamin D excess leads to an increased allergy risk. In this context, current strategy of vitamin D supplementation in infants and the possibility of a bimodal effect on allergic reactions of both, vitamin D deficiency and excess are discussed.

Keywords: Vitamin D; calcitriol; allergy; allograft; rejection; inflammation; T helper cell; dendritic cell

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152809788462644

Publication date: 2009-06-01

More about this publication?

• Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets aims to cover all the latest and outstanding developments on the medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, genomics and biochemistry of contemporary molecular targets involved in inflammation and allergy e.g. disease specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, genes. Each issue of the journal contains a series of timely in-depth reviews written by leaders in the field covering a range of current topics on drug targets involved in inflammation and allergy. As the discovery, identification, characterization and validation of novel human drug targets for anti-inflammation and allergy drug discovery continues to grow, this journal has become essential reading for all pharmaceutical scientists involved in drug discovery and development.

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