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Vitamin D's role in cell proliferation and differentiation

Sam Samuel1, Michael D Sitrin

  • 1The Western New York Veterans Administration Medical Center, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14215, USA.

Nutrition Reviews
|December 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin D impacts cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis through genomic and nongenomic pathways. Its non-calcium-regulating actions are vital for cell function, immunity, and cardiovascular health.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology and Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Biology and Physiology

Background:

  • Vitamin D traditionally regulates calcium homeostasis.
  • Emerging evidence highlights vitamin D's broader biological roles.
  • Vitamin D influences numerous cellular processes beyond calcium metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pleiotropic effects of vitamin D.
  • To examine mechanisms of vitamin D's influence on cell growth and differentiation.
  • To explore factors affecting cellular responsiveness to vitamin D.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on vitamin D's cellular mechanisms.
  • Analysis of genomic and nongenomic pathways.
  • Investigation of vitamin D receptor response elements.

Main Results:

  • Vitamin D affects hundreds of genes involved in cell cycling, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.
  • Nongenomic actions of vitamin D impact cell function, including growth, carcinogenesis, immunity, and cardiovascular physiology.
  • Cell-specific factors modulate cellular responses to vitamin D.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin D possesses diverse noncalcemic actions crucial for cellular regulation.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is key to appreciating vitamin D's role in health and disease.
  • Further research into cell-specific factors can illuminate therapeutic potential.

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