Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "A. Buzzati-Traverso" (IGB)-CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Biomolecular Science Programme, Università Degli Studi Della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Viale Abramo Lincoln, 5, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
Molecules. 2020 Jul 15;25(14):3219. doi: 10.3390/molecules25143219.
Vitamin D and its active metabolites are important nutrients for human skeletal health. UV irradiation of skin converts 7-dehydrocholesterol into vitamin D3, which metabolized in the liver and kidneys into its active form, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Apart from its classical role in calcium and phosphate regulation, scientists have shown that the vitamin D receptor is expressed in almost all tissues of the body, hence it has numerous biological effects. These includes fetal and adult homeostatic functions in development and differentiation of metabolic, epidermal, endocrine, neurological and immunological systems of the body. Moreover, the expression of vitamin D receptor in the majority of immune cells and the ability of these cells to actively metabolize 25(OH)D3 into its active form 1,25(OH)D3 reinforces the important role of vitamin D signaling in maintaining a healthy immune system. In addition, several studies have showed that vitamin D has important regulatory roles of mechanisms controlling proliferation, differentiation and growth. The administration of vitamin D analogues or the active metabolite of vitamin D activates apoptotic pathways, has antiproliferative effects and inhibits angiogenesis. This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview on the effects of vitamin D and its receptor (VDR) in regulating inflammation, different cell death modalities and cancer. It also aims to investigate the possible therapeutic benefits of vitamin D and its analogues as anticancer agents.
维生素 D 及其活性代谢物是人类骨骼健康的重要营养物质。皮肤中的紫外线照射将 7-脱氢胆固醇转化为维生素 D3，然后在肝脏和肾脏中代谢为其活性形式 1α,25-二羟维生素 D3。除了在钙和磷调节中的经典作用外，科学家们已经表明，维生素 D 受体在体内几乎所有组织中都有表达，因此它具有许多生物学效应。这些效应包括在代谢、表皮、内分泌、神经和免疫系统的发育和分化中对胎儿和成人的体内稳态功能。此外，维生素 D 受体在大多数免疫细胞中的表达以及这些细胞将 25(OH)D3 主动代谢为其活性形式 1,25(OH)D3 的能力，加强了维生素 D 信号在维持健康免疫系统中的重要作用。此外，多项研究表明，维生素 D 对控制增殖、分化和生长的机制具有重要的调节作用。维生素 D 类似物或维生素 D 的活性代谢物的给药会激活细胞凋亡途径，具有抗增殖作用，并抑制血管生成。本综述旨在提供关于维生素 D 及其受体（VDR）在调节炎症、不同细胞死亡方式和癌症方面的最新概述。它还旨在研究维生素 D 及其类似物作为抗癌剂的可能治疗益处。
