Vitamin D, calcium and bone in cytokine inflammatory parasite reaction.

Author:  I. Frydas¹

¹Aristotelian University, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Calcium (Ca2 +) is indispensable for the functions of primary immune cells derived from bone marrow and mediates signal transduction to various cell types including mast cells (MCs). It is known that MCs react against parasites by contributing to their expulsion through the secretion of chemical mediators and cytokines.

In parasitosis, the presence of MCs could influence the arrival of other immune cells such as macrophages and TH1 and Th2 cells with cytokine production and reduction of parasitic load. However, this effect can generate inflammation, which is harmful to the body.

Vitamin D, which is an essential element in the pathophysiology of bone, has many properties and functions, and it is determinant for maintaining the homeostasis of mineral content in the body and bone architecture.

Vitamin D  receptor is variously distributed in a huge number of cells such as immune cells, including MCs. Lack of vitamin D can lead to increased vulnerability to infection.

Vitamin D participates in parasitosis which show various clinical symptoms with inflammation and tissue damage.However, the role of this vitamin on parasitosis is little known even if it is proposed to be used as an adjuvant to control the disease and presents therapeutic aspects.

Here, we report the relationship between vitamin D, calcium, cytokine inflammation and parasite.