Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
Vitamin D and its immunoregulatory role in multiple sclerosis
1Department of Clinical Research, Hokkaido Medical Center, Nishi-ku, Sapporo, Japan. niino@hok-mc.hosp.go.jp
Abstract:
Mapping the distribution of multiple sclerosis (MS) reveals a high prevalence of the disease in high-latitude areas, suggesting a positive relationship between vitamin D and MS. Vitamin D is known to play an important role in bone and mineral homeostasis. It has recently been reported that several types of immune cells express vitamin D receptors and that vitamin D has strong immune-modulating effects. Vitamin D and its analogues inhibited experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE, an animal model of MS) and there have been reports of small clinical trials on the treatment of MS with vitamin D. Furthermore, there have been discussions on the association between vitamin D levels and MS and about the genetic risk of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms in MS. The current review discusses the immunological functions of vitamin D, the association between vitamin D and MS and expectations regarding the role of vitamin D in future treatments of MS.
Related Concept Videos
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
Connective Tissue Cell Types
Fat cells (adipocytes), smooth muscle cells (myoblasts), and bone cells (osteoblasts) are some connective tissue cell types. Some immune system cells...
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

