| [ Summary ] |
The active metabolite of vitamin D, 1α, 25 (OH)2D not only regulates bone and mineral metabolism, but also exerts immunoregulatory activities in an autocrine / paracrine manner in immune system mediated diseases. In Th1-driven diseases such as sarcoidosis, macrophages activated by interferon-γ, one of the Th1 cytokines, secrete 1α, 25 (OH)2D through the action of a vitamin D-activating key enzyme, 1α-hydroxylase. Since cell-mediated immune responses in atherosclerosis are thought to be Th1-dominated, 1α, 25 (OH)2D plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis and plaque calcification. |