Abstract

AGUILAR-JIMENEZ, Wbeimar; ZAPATA B, Wildeman  and  RUGELES L, María Teresa. Vitamin D involvement in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Infect. [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.3, pp.146-152. ISSN 0123-9392.

Beyond its role in mineral metabolism, vitamin D (VitD) has immunomodulatory functions and can actively participate in the physiopathogenesis of HIV-1 infection; however, scientific evidence in this field is limited and controversial. VitD has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce immune hyperactivation, decreasing the damage associated with this phenomenon. It also promotes the expression of antimicrobial peptides with anti-HIV-1 activity, supporting its protective role. In contrast, VitD activates the HIV-1 promoter and can increase viral replication. Furthermore, a number of allelic variants in the vitamin D receptor gene, which increase its function, have been associated with susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. Given the implications of this topic for the identification of new therapeutic targets in HIV infection, this review presents scientific evidence on the effect of the VitD pathway in HIV-1 pathogenesis.

Keywords : Human immunodeficiency virus type 1; Vitamin D; Immune activation; Antimicrobial peptides.

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