Vitamin D and toll like receptors

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that vitamin D (VD) significantly modulates immune responses. Toll like receptors (TLRs) are the main innate immunity receptors which are expressed on the cell membrane and intracellular vesicles and recognize several pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) to induce immune responses. Based on the important roles played by TLRs in physiologic and pathologic functions of immune responses and due to the immunomodulatory functions of VD, it has been hypothesized that VD may present its immunomodulatory functions via modulation of TLRs. This review article collates recent studies regarding the interactions between VD and TLRs and discussed the controversial investigations.

Keywords: Immune responses; Toll like receptors; Vitamin D.