Aligning the Paradoxical Role of Vitamin D in Gastrointestinal Immunity

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and an immune-mediated attack against the commensal microbiota. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that not only promotes calcium and phosphate absorption but also regulates immune function. The active form of vitamin D [1,25(OH)(2)D] has been shown to suppress symptoms of IBD by inhibiting T cell responses. Host protection from gastrointestinal infection depends on T cells. Paradoxically, vitamin D deficiency increases susceptibility to IBD and gastrointestinal infection. Here we review the roles of vitamin D in immune cells using a kinetic model of the vitamin D-mediated effects on infection to explain the sometimes paradoxical effects of vitamin D on gastrointestinal immunity.