Effects of calcitriol on the immune system: new possibilities in the treatment of glomerulonephritis

doi:10.1046/j.1440-1681.2003.03919.x

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Wiley InterScience

Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology

Volume 30 Issue 11, Pages 807 - 811

Published Online: 19 Nov 2003

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BRIEF REVIEW

Effects of calcitriol on the immune system: new possibilities in the treatment of glomerulonephritis

Vincenzo Panichi , Massimiliano Migliori , Daniele Taccola , Cristina Consani and Luca Giovannini

Department of Internal Medicine and Neuroscience (Pharmacology Section), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

Correspondence to Dr Vincenzo Panichi, Dipartimento Medicina Interna, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy. Email: vpanichi@med.unipi.it

KEYWORDS

1 • 25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ • glomerulonephritis • immune system

Summary

Regulation of the immune system by calcitriol

New therapeutic application for calcitriol?

Effects of calcitriol in experimental models of renal disease

1. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D₃), the hormonal form of vitamin D, is widely appreciated to play a central role in calcium and phosphate homeostasis. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the sterol also play an important role in the regulation of cellular growth, haematopoietic tissues and the immune system, as well as in the modulation of hormone secretion by several endocrine glands.

2. In the present review, some of the mechanisms by which 1,25(OH)₂D₃ regulates immune function are highlighted. Moreover, a number of studies on the effects of calcitriol in several experimental animal models of renal disease are reported, suggesting new possibilities in the therapy of glomerulonephritis.

Received 2 December 2002; revision 28 February 2003; accepted 4 March 2003.

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1046/j.1440-1681.2003.03919.x About DOI