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Review
. 2021 Jun 29:12:683665.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.683665. eCollection 2021.

Influence of Seasonal Vitamin D Changes on Clinical Manifestations of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Sclerosis

Maurizio Cutolo  1 , Stefano Soldano  1 , Alberto Sulli  1 , Vanessa Smith  2   3   4 , Emanuele Gotelli  1
Affiliations
Review

Influence of Seasonal Vitamin D Changes on Clinical Manifestations of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Sclerosis

Maurizio Cutolo et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Vitamin D [1,25(OH)2D-calcitriol] is basically a steroid hormone with pleiotropic biologic effects, and its impact on the regulation of immune system may influence several clinical conditions. Calcidiol (25OHD), as precursor of calcitriol, derives, for the most part (80%), from cutaneous cholesterol (7-dehydrocholesterol) under the action of UV-B (sunlight). Consequently, serum concentrations fluctuate during the year following the circannual rhythm of sun exposition. We will update about the available evidence regarding the complex influence of seasonal vitamin D changes on two different chronic connective tissue diseases, namely rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). Notably, RA is an emblematic model of autoimmune disease with prevalent joint inflammatory features, while SSc is mainly an autoimmune progressive pro-fibrotic disease. However, in both conditions, low serum concentrations of 25OHD are involved in the pathogenesis of the diseases, and emerging data report their impact on clinical manifestations.

Keywords: circadian rhythms; connective tissue diseases; rheumatoid arthritis; systemic sclerosis; vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Seasonal variations of rheumatoid arthritis incidence, severity and progression, according to vitamin D serum concentrations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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