Immunological Role of Vitamin D in Skin Diseases and Carcinoma

Growing evidence attests to the vital role vitamin D plays in the dynamics of the immune system. Active 1,25(OH)2D3 binds to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) to form a ligand-activated receptor complex able to control transcription in the nucleus. We examined the various mechanisms through which vitamin D3 alters and enhances immune responses in a variety of skin conditions, as well as the pathways it activates to inhibit the progression of tumors and carcinomas. The hormone primarily elicits a change as either an inflammation modulator or cancer suppressor. Also addressed are current advancements in vitamin D treatment methods through the development of novel analogs.