The beneficial role of vitamin D in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

• Published in: Clinical rheumatology Vol. 31; no. 10; pp. 1423 - 1435
• Main Authors: vinh quốc Lương, Khanh, Nguyễn, Lan Thi Hoàng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer-Verlag 01.10.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bone Diseases, Metabolic - epidemiology; Calcitriol - therapeutic use; Comorbidity; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - drug therapy; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - genetics; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - physiopathology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Prevalence; Review Article; Rheumatology; Vitamin D - physiology; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Vitamin D; SLE; Calcitriol
• ISSN: 0770-3198; 1434-9949
• DOI: 10.1007/s10067-012-2033-1

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a high prevalence of abnormal bone metabolism and vitamin D deficiency. Genetic studies have provided the opportunity to determine the specific proteins linking vitamin D to SLE pathology [i.e., major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules, the vitamin D receptor (VDR), microRNAs (miRNAs), the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), apolipoprotein E (ApoE), liver X receptor (LXR), and toll-like receptors (TLRs)]. Vitamin D also exerts protective effects against SLE through non-genomic factors, such as ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure, matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), the prostaglandins (PGs), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and oxidative stress. Thus, vitamin D may play a beneficial role in SLE. Moreover, the use of calcitriol or 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 is optimal for the treatment of SLE patients because this active form of the vitamin D 3 metabolite can modulate inflammatory cytokine production. However, further investigation into the effects of calcitriol with SLE is warranted.