The role of vitamin D in rheumatoid arthritis / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in the general population including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Autocrine regulation of vitamin D modulates important immune response.Vitamin D deficiency may be involved in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases including RA.Vitamin D regulates both the innate and adaptive immune responses.Vitamin D's effects on the innate immune system are mainly through the toll-like receptor and on the adaptive immune system through T cell differentiation,particularly the Helper T cell (Th) 17 response.As Thl7 cells are critical in the pathogenesis in RA,what effect will vitamin D deficiency lead to on the RA? Many data have indicated the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and RA disease activities,but not all the results are consistent.Here,we review the immune-modulatory roles of vitamin D and its effects on disease activity,osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease risk in RA.